Femi Ashekun/
In a move showcasing Ukraine’s deepening tactical capabilities, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy provided detailed insights into the execution of a high-profile drone assault on multiple Russian airfields.
Speaking on the success of the operation, Zelenskyy revealed on X how the mission was meticulously planned and executed, striking at the heart of Russia’s strategic bomber fleet.
President Zelenskyy’s post, which quickly gained international attention, read:
“Today, a brilliant operation was carried out — on enemy territory, targeting only military objectives, specifically the equipment used to strike Ukraine. Russia suffered significant losses — entirely justified and deserved.”
This statement marked a rare public acknowledgment of Ukraine’s involvement in an operation of such scale and complexity. It also underscored the nation’s commitment to defending its sovereignty through decisive and calculated military action.
Dubbed “Operation Spiderweb,” the attack targeted four key Russian airbases: Belaya, Olenya, Dyagilevo, and Ivanovo, spanning from Siberia to Moscow’s outskirts. The operation involved 117 drones, strategically deployed to inflict maximum damage.
Ukrainian intelligence agents reportedly smuggled drones concealed in mobile cabins into Russia, positioning them close to the targeted airbases before launch.
The results were significant: 41 Russian aircraft were hit, with 13 reportedly destroyed. The estimated damage exceeded $7 billion, a blow to Russia’s strategic missile-carrying aircraft fleet, critical for long-range assaults on Ukraine.
The escalation comes amid ongoing hostilities and increasing Ukrainian resilience in the face of Russian aggression. Over the past months, Russia has ramped up its missile and drone strikes, targeting Ukrainian cities and infrastructure.
Ukrainian officials have described the drone assault as a response to these provocations, aiming to neutralise assets used in such attacks.
The Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) confirmed its leadership role in the operation, marking it as the country’s longest-range offensive to date. This deep-strike capability signifies a shift in Ukraine’s military strategy, emphasising proactive deterrence over defensive posturing.
The drone attack has disrupted Russian military operations, with reports suggesting that 34% of Russia’s strategic cruise missile carriers were rendered inoperable.
This development occurs as both nations prepare for peace talks in Istanbul, where the power dynamics may now be reshaped by Ukraine’s tactical success.
Meanwhile, Russia retaliated with its largest drone and missile barrage since 2022, deploying 472 drones and missiles in a single day.
Ukrainian air defenses intercepted a majority of these, but the attacks caused widespread concern over the escalating intensity of the conflict.
Zelenskyy’s candid acknowledgment of the operation’s success demonstrates Ukraine’s confidence in its military capabilities and its willingness to take bold actions to safeguard its sovereignty.
Despite suffering setbacks and shortcomings on the battlefield, throughout the war Kyiv has sought to focus on Russia’s rear to cripple and neutralise combat capabilities.
Sunday’s operation is perhaps the most brazen in a series mounted by Ukraine.
In April 2022, Ukraine sank the Moskva, the flagship of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, after striking it with two Ukrainian Neptune anti-ship missiles. The sinking marked a major Ukrainian victory in the war.
In October 2022, a Ukrainian attack damaged the Kerch Bridge, which links Russia to Moscow-annexed Crimea. The bridge, which holds important strategic and symbolic value, was hit again in July 2023.
A year later, in August 2024, Ukrainian forces launched a daring military incursion into Russia’s Kursk region, the first time Russian territory was occupied by an invader since World War II. It dealt a humiliating blow to the Kremlin.
Russia claimed in April 2025 that it had fully reclaimed the border territory, though Ukraine insists it still has troops present there.
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