Topzle Topzle

Operation Spiderweb

Updated: Wikipedia source

Operation Spiderweb

Operation Spiderweb (Ukrainian: Операція «Павутина», romanized: Operátsija "Pavutýna") was a covert drone attack carried out by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) deep inside Russia on 1 June 2025, during the Russo-Ukrainian War. The coordinated strikes targeted the Russian Air Force's Long-Range Aviation assets at five air bases — Belaya, Dyagilevo, Ivanovo Severny, Olenya, and Ukrainka — using drones concealed in and launched from trucks on Russian territory. It was the largest drone attack on Russian air bases up to that point in the war, employing 117 drones, according to Ukrainian officials. According to two US officials speaking to Reuters, about twenty military aircraft were hit in the attack, ten of which were destroyed. Russia confirmed that the attack took place. The operation was notable for its unprecedented geographical reach — spanning five oblasts across five time zones — particularly the strike on Belaya Air Base in Eastern Siberia, where damage was confirmed 4,300 km (2,700 mi) from Ukraine.

Infobox

Target
Russian Air Force
Outcome
10–11 Tu-95MS and Tu-22M3 destroyed (per The War Zone)20 military aircraft hit, 10 of which were destroyed (per US)41 military aircraft hit (per the Security Service of Ukraine), at least 13 military aircraft destroyed (per NSDCU)
Executed by
Security Service of Ukraine
Date
1 June 2025 (2025-06-01)
Location
Olenya, Dyagilevo, Ivanovo, Belaya, and Ukrainka airbases, Russia

Tables

Bomb damage assessment (sources above) · Strikes › Total aircraft damage
Olenya
Olenya
Tu-95 type
Olenya
Tu-95 type
Belaya
Tu-22M3
Belaya
An-12
Olenya
A-50
Ivanovo Severny
Aircraft
Total
4
4
Tu-95 type
4
Tu-95 type
3-4
Tu-22M3
4
An-12
1
A-50
2 (targeted)
Aircraft
12-13 + 2 targeted
Tu-95 type
Tu-22M3
An-12
A-50
Aircraft
Olenya
Belaya
Belaya
Olenya
Ivanovo Severny
Total
4
3-4
4
1
2 (targeted)
12-13 + 2 targeted

References

  1. Alternatively referred to as Operation Spider's Web
  2. The War Zone
    https://www.twz.com/air/firm-evidence-of-russian-aircraft-losses-after-ukrainian-drone-strikes
  3. "Ukraine hit fewer Russian planes than it estimated, US officials say"
    https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/ukraine-hit-fewer-russian-planes-than-it-estimated-us-officials-say-2025-06-04/
  4. "What Ukraine's Unprecedented Drone Attack Means For Russia's Bomber Force"
    https://www.twz.com/air/what-ukraines-unprecedented-drone-attack-means-for-russian-bomber-force
  5. The Economist
    https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2025/06/12/the-economic-lessons-from-ukraines-spectacular-drone-success
  6. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/01/world/europe/russia-ukraine-strikes.html
  7. Al Jazeera
    https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/6/1/ukrainian-drones-target-russian-airbases-in-unprecedented-operation
  8. The Guardian
    https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jun/02/operation-spiderweb-visual-guide-ukraine-drone-attack-russian-aircraft
  9. Euronews
    https://www.euronews.com/2025/06/01/operation-spiderweb-how-ukraine-destroyed-over-a-third-of-russian-military-aircraft
  10. Axios
    https://www.axios.com/2025/06/01/ukraine-drone-strikes-russia
  11. CBS News
    https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ukraine-russia-drone-attacks-ceasefire-talks-turkey/
  12. LB.ua
    https://lb.ua/society/2025/06/01/679517_fpv_shovali_pid_dahi_mobilnih.html
  13. RBC-Ukraine
    https://newsukraine.rbc.ua/news/deadly-spiderweb-how-ukraine-destroyed-40-1748792204.html
  14. Wall Street Journal
    https://www.wsj.com/world/ukraine-russia-drone-attack-bombers-cc77e534
  15. Ukrinform
    https://www.ukrinform.ua/rubric-ato/3999440-specoperaciu-pavutina-gotuvali-ponad-pivtora-roku-dzerelo.html
  16. BBC Verify
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cq69qnvj6nlo
  17. reuters.com
    https://www.reuters.com/graphics/UKRAINE-CRISIS/DRONES-RUSSIA/mypmjzayyvr/
  18. Kyiv Post
    https://www.kyivpost.com/post/53935
  19. Golem.de
    https://www.golem.de/news/ardupilot-die-software-hinter-operation-spinnennetz-2506-196797.html
  20. "Ukraine Attacks Part of Russia's Nuclear Triad. Russia May Strike Nuclear Blow in Response"
    https://english.pravda.ru/hotspots/162641-ukraine-russia-nuclear-blow/
  21. Kyiv Post
    https://www.kyivpost.com/post/53784
  22. "Drone Warfare's Terrifying AI-Enabled Next Step Is Imminent"
    https://www.twz.com/news-features/drone-warfares-terrifying-ai-enabled-next-step-is-imminent
  23. New Scientist
    https://www.newscientist.com/article/2380971-drones-with-ai-targeting-system-claimed-to-be-better-than-human/
  24. Знищення 41 літака стратегічної авіації РФ. Як готували спецоперацію 'Павутина'
    https://texty.org.ua/fragments/115198/znyshennya-41-litaka-stratehichnoyi-aviaciyi-rf-yak-hotuvaly-specoperaciyu-pavutyna-foto/
  25. Institute for the Study of War
    https://understandingwar.org/research/russia-ukraine/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-june-1-2025/
  26. BBC
    https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1ld7ppre9vo
  27. Euromaidan Press
    https://euromaidanpress.com/2025/06/02/trojan-truck-attack-ukraine-used-ai-trained-fpv-drones-launched-from-trucks-to-destroy-34-of-russias-strategic-bomber-fleet-in-a-day/
  28. Kyiv Post
    https://www.kyivpost.com/post/53749
  29. Euronews
    https://www.euronews.com/2025/06/01/ukraine-reportedly-strikes-down-over-40-russian-strategic-bombers-in-mass-drone-attack
  30. WSJ
    https://www.wsj.com/world/trump-said-he-spoke-with-putin-after-ukraine-drone-attack-6dcc835b
  31. BBC Verify Live
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cx2xrz4yqvwt?post=asset%3A09b3e379-f79a-44e8-bbf1-39428b6afd6d#post
  32. "Are the surprise airfield attacks a turning point for Ukraine?"
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn4gp2g7g47o
  33. "Satellite images show Russian bombers destroyed in Ukraine attack"
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvg9zdxwk29o
  34. newsukraine.rbc.ua
    https://newsukraine.rbc.ua/news/spiderweb-operation-tu-95-bombers-armed-with-1749093369.html
  35. defence-blog.com
    https://defence-blog.com/tu-95s-seen-armed-with-kh-101-missiles-before-drone-strike/
  36. dsnews.ua
    https://www.dsnews.ua/ukr/world/shche-tri-rosiyski-viyskovi-aerodromi-pid-dronovoyu-atakoyu-01062025-522883
  37. WWW1
    https://www1.ru/news/2025/05/31/rossiia-perebrosila-40-bombardirovshhikov-tu-22m3-i-okolo-20-vsex-tu-95ms-na-novyi-aerodrom.html
  38. Агентство
    https://www.agents.media/ukraina-za-odin-den-unichtozhila-i-povredila-ne-menee-6-rossijskih-strategicheskih-bombardirovshhikov/
  39. zona.media
    https://zona.media/news/2025/06/01/drones
  40. Русская служба The Moscow Times
    https://www.moscowtimes.ru/2025/06/01/ukraina-atakovala-bazi-strategicheskih-bombardirovschikov-vmurmanskoi-irkutskoi-iryazanskoi-oblastyah-a164927
  41. Deutsche Welle
    https://www.dw.com/ru/udar-vsu-po-strategiceskoj-aviacii-rf-stal-krupnejsim-v-istorii-eksperty/a-72750436
  42. Washington Post
    https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/2025/06/03/ukraine-attack-russian-bombers-damage/
  43. abcnews.go.com
    https://abcnews.go.com/International/aftermath-ukraine-drone-strike-russian-airfields-shown-satellite/story?id=122514076
  44. Атака дронов по России: ПВО в Москве, удары по Липецкой области и Иваново
    https://www.currenttime.tv/a/33422547.html
  45. telegraph.co.uk
    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/06/03/ukraine-strikes-putin-prized-spy-plane/
  46. Security Service of Ukraine
    https://ssu.gov.ua/novyny/sbu-pokazala-unikalni-kadry-spetsoperatsii-pavutyna-u-rezultati-yakoi-urazheno-41-viiskovyi-litak-stratehichnoi-aviatsii-rf-video
  47. Reuters
    https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/ukraine-attacks-russian-nuclear-capable-bombers-siberia-2025-06-01/
  48. ABC News
    https://abcnews.go.com/International/russian-railway-bridges-collapse-2-regions-bordering-ukraine/story?id=122391100
  49. The Barents Observer
    https://www.thebarentsobserver.com/security/satellite-images-from-olenya-show-4-strategic-bombers-destroyed/431046/
  50. istories.media
    https://istories.media/news/2025/06/01/ukraina-provela-seriyu-atak-na-aerodromi-v-rossii-glavnoe/
  51. The Express Tribune
    https://tribune.com.pk/story/2550906/untangling-the-spiders-web-of-ukraine
  52. Meduza
    https://meduza.io/news/2025/06/01/sbu-v-hode-spetsoperatsii-pautina-porazhena-tret-rossiyskih-strategicheskih-nositeley-krylatyh-raket-obschey-stoimostyu-sem-milliardov-dollarov
  53. WSJ
    https://www.wsj.com/world/ukraines-stunning-assault-upends-russias-global-military-strategy-094f8c1c
  54. NBC News
    https://www.nbcnews.com/world/ukraine/ukraines-massive-drone-attack-deep-russia-lays-bare-putins-vulnerabili-rcna210300
  55. "Russia confirms Ukraine carried out drone attacks on airfields"
    https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cgrg7kelk45t?post=asset%3Af4a964f1-a182-4164-b6df-56e674a1b707#post
  56. "Russian authorities detain truck driver thought to be involved in attack"
    https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cgrg7kelk45t?post=asset%3A6f21bb15-cc34-42a5-a466-9ddf4d50e57b#post
  57. Meduza
    https://meduza.io/feature/2025/09/11/mediazona-podtverdila-lichnosti-voditeley-fur-kotoryh-ukraina-vslepuyu-ispolzovala-v-operatsii-pautina
  58. "Trump says he spoke with Putin, and Putin plans to respond to Ukraine drone strike"
    https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-putin-phone-call-ukraine-drone-strike/
  59. TIME
    https://time.com/7291210/trump-says-putin-plans-to-retaliate-against-ukraine/
  60. Newsweek
    https://www.newsweek.com/russia-tu160-strategic-bombers-alaska-anadyr-ukraine-spiderweb-2081937
  61. militarnyi
    https://militarnyi.com/en/news/russian-tu-160s-strike-ukraine-with-cruise-missiles-as-aggressor-lacks-tu-95-msm-bombers/
  62. Financial Times
    https://www.ft.com/content/132e4327-11da-4412-b36b-7363604879e6
  63. The Moscow Times
    https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/06/12/russia-relocates-strategic-bombers-after-ukraines-spiders-web-drone-attack-a89427
  64. The Telegraph
    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/06/11/russia-sends-nuclear-bombers-further-after-ukraine-drone/
  65. The Wall Street Journal
    https://www.wsj.com/opinion/ukraine-will-win-this-war-drone-attack-in-russia-d74759ac?mod=hp_opin_pos_5
Image
Source:
Tip: Wheel or +/− to zoom, drag to pan, Esc to close.