Ukraine has claimed responsibility for its most ambitious long-range drone assault since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, striking four Russian military airbases and reportedly damaging dozens of warplanes in a complex covert operation that took 18 months to prepare.
President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the success of the “Spider’s Web” operation on Sunday, describing it as “absolutely brilliant” and confirming that 117 drones were launched during the overnight strikes. He said the attack, orchestrated by Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU), damaged 34% of Russia’s strategic cruise missile carriers and caused an estimated $7 billion in losses.
Sources within the SBU told media that drones were smuggled into Russia and hidden in wooden mobile cabins with remote-controlled roofs mounted on trucks. The drones were launched from within Russian territory at strategic moments to evade detection and maximize impact.
Among the airbases targeted were Belaya in Irkutsk (Siberia), Olenya in Murmansk, Dyagilevo in Ryazan, and Ivanovo in central Russia. These bases host strategic bombers including the nuclear-capable Tu-95 and Tu-22M3, as well as A-50 airborne early warning aircraft.
In an extraordinary revelation, Zelensky said the command center for the operation was located next to the FSB—the Russian state security service—in an unnamed Russian region. “Each of the 117 drones had its own pilot, and all the operatives were safely withdrawn before the strikes,” he added.
While Ukraine celebrated the success of the unprecedented strikes, Russia condemned the operation as a “terrorist act,” confirming attacks in five regions. Russia’s Ministry of Defence said its airbases in Ivanovo, Ryazan, Amur, Murmansk, and Irkutsk were targeted. It claimed all attacks on Ivanovo, Ryazan, and Amur were repelled, though admitted that “several aircraft caught fire” in Murmansk and Irkutsk.
Footage shared on Russian social media showed drones emerging from Kamaz trucks and flying over highways near fuel stations. Irkutsk Governor Igor Kobzev confirmed that the drone launch in his region originated from a truck and that the area had been secured.
The drone assault coincided with one of the largest Russian airstrikes on Ukraine to date. Ukrainian officials said 472 drones and seven missiles were launched at various regions, resulting in the neutralisation of 385 aerial targets. In Kharkiv, at least six people, including a seven-year-old child, were injured in the overnight attacks.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s land forces reported a tragic missile strike on a military training centre, killing 12 personnel and injuring over 60. In response, the head of Ukraine’s land forces, Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi, resigned, citing a “personal sense of responsibility for the tragedy.”
Amid the escalation, Russian and Ukrainian delegations are set to meet in Istanbul on Monday for a second round of peace talks. Scheduled to begin at 13:00 local time at the historic Ciragan Palace, the discussions carry modest expectations, with both sides remaining deeply divided on key issues.
The Ukrainian government has not confirmed whether the drone assault was intended to strengthen its negotiating position, but the scale and success of the strikes are likely to shape the atmosphere in Istanbul.
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