Operation Spider's Web

{{Short description|June 2025 Ukrainian military operation in Russia}}

{{Requested move notice|1=Operation Spiderweb|2=Talk:Operation Spider's Web#Requested move 3 June 2025}}

{{Redirect|Operation Spider Web|the military operation in the Iraq War|List of coalition military operations of the Iraq War#2005}}

{{Infobox military operation

| name =

| partof = the attacks in Russia during the Russian invasion of Ukraine

| image = 2025-06-01 DroneAttack SBU (Burning Plane).jpg

| caption = A photo of a FPV-drone-struck Tupolev Tu-95 at Russia's Olenya airbase during the attack

| scope =

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| location = Olenya, Dyagilevo, Ivanovo, Belaya, and Ukrainka airbases, Russia

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| planned =

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| target = Russian Air Force

| date = {{Start date|2025|06|01|df=y}}

| time =

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| timezone =

| executed_by = Security Service of Ukraine

| outcome = 41 Russian military aircraft hit (per SBU)
20 Russian military aircraft hit, 10 of which destroyed (per US){{cite news |title=Ukraine hit fewer Russian planes than it estimated, US officials say| last1 = Stewart | first1 = Phil| last2 = Ali | first2 = Idrees |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/ukraine-hit-fewer-russian-planes-than-it-estimated-us-officials-say-2025-06-04/ |access-date=5 June 2025 |publisher=Reuters |date=5 June 2025}}

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{{OSM Location map|coord={{coord|58|90}}|width=380|height=200|zoom=2|auto-caption=14|nolabels=1|shapeD=n-circle|shape-outlineD=white|shape-colorD=green|mark-sizeD=17|label-colorD=dark blue|label-sizeD=12|label-posD=right|mark-coord1={{coord|68.152|33.469}}|label1=Olenya|mark-coord2={{coord|57.058|40.982}}|label2=Ivanovo Severny|mark-coord3={{coord|54.642|39.572}}|label3=Dyagilevo|mark-coord4={{coord|52.915|103.575}}|label4=Belaya|mark-coord5={{coord|51.169|128.446}}|label5=Ukrainka|caption=Location of the airbases targeted inside Russia}}

Operation Spider's Web ({{langx|uk|Операція «Павутина»|translit=Operatsija "Pavutyna"}}) 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{{Mdash}}Belaya, Dyagilevo, Ivanovo Severny, Olenya, and Ukrainka{{Mdash}}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 20 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{{Mdash}}spanning five oblasts across five time zones{{cite news |last1=Varenikova |first1=Maria |last2=Kuznietsova |first2=Anastasia |last3=Vasilyeva |first3=Nataliya |title=Ukraine Drone Strike Targets Russian Air Bases in Large-Scale Attack |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/01/world/europe/russia-ukraine-strikes.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=1 June 2025 |date=1 June 2025 |archive-date=1 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250601122154/https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/01/world/europe/russia-ukraine-strikes.html |url-status=live }}—particularly the strike on Belaya Air Base in Eastern Siberia, where damage was confirmed {{cvt|4,300|km}} from Ukraine.{{cite news |title=Ukrainian drones target Russian airbases in unprecedented operation |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/6/1/ukrainian-drones-target-russian-airbases-in-unprecedented-operation |access-date=1 June 2025 |work=Al Jazeera |date=1 June 2025}}

Preparation

File:Operation Spider's Web.webp viewing satellite images of Russian military airfields (clockwise: Olenya, Ivanovo Severny, Ukrainka, Belaya, and Dyagilevo) and photos of strategic bombers Tu-95MS (left) and Tu-22M3 (right). The X's mark their most vulnerable areas.]]

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that it took 18 months and 9 days from the start of planning to execution of the operation.{{cite news |title='Operation Spiderweb': How Ukraine destroyed over a third of Russian bombers |first=Sasha |last=Vakulina |date=1 June 2025 |url= https://www.euronews.com/2025/06/01/operation-spiderweb-how-ukraine-destroyed-over-a-third-of-russian-military-aircraft |work=Euronews |access-date=1 June 2025}} American and Ukrainian sources say that the United States was not informed in advance about the attacks.{{Cite news |last1=Lyons |first1=Emmet |last2=Jacobs |first2=Jennifer |date=2 June 2025 |title=Ukraine claims drone attack hit 40 Russian bombers as talks set to resume in Turkey |website=CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ukraine-russia-drone-attacks-ceasefire-talks-turkey/ |language=en |access-date=2 June 2025 |archive-date=1 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250601194313/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ukraine-russia-drone-attacks-ceasefire-talks-turkey/ |url-status=live }} According to Ukrainian sources, the plan for the "extremely complex" operation was implemented by the SBU head Vasyl Malyuk and his staff, and progress was personally supervised by Zelenskyy.{{cite news |title=Deadly 'Spiderweb': How Ukraine destroyed 40 Russian jets in historic behind-the-lines op |url=https://newsukraine.rbc.ua/news/deadly-spiderweb-how-ukraine-destroyed-40-1748792204.html |work=RBC-Ukraine |date=1 June 2025|access-date=1 June 2025}}

The drones, of domestic make, were simple "Osa" brand quadcopters (Ukrainian for "wasp"), each with a payload of just over {{convert|7|lbs|kg}}.{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/world/ukraine-russia-drone-attack-bombers-cc77e534|url-access=subscription|title=Inside the Ukrainian Drone Operation That Devastated Russia's Bomber Fleet|last1=Marson|first1=James|last2=Lytvynenko|first2=Jane|last3=Smith|first3=Brenna T.|last4=Bosak|first4=Serhii|date=3 June 2025|newspaper=Wall Street Journal|archive-date=4 June 2025|access-date=4 June 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250604134420/https://www.wsj.com/world/ukraine-russia-drone-attack-bombers-cc77e534|url-status=live}} While in transport to Russia, approximately 36 were transferred into the removable roofs of wooden containers built to resemble regular mobile wooden cabins, which are routinely transported on flatbed trucks{{cite news| last1=Mazhulin | first1=Artem | last2=Holmes | first2=Oliver | last3=Swan | first3=Lucy | last4=Boulinier | first4=Laure | last5=Hecimovic | first5=Arnel | title=Operation Spiderweb: a visual guide to Ukraine's destruction of Russian aircraft |newspaper=The Guardian | date=2 June 2025 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jun/02/operation-spiderweb-visual-guide-ukraine-drone-attack-russian-aircraft}} without tarpaulin. The Wall Street Journal later specified that more than 100 quadcopters were smuggled in parts into and assembled in Russia, and only noted "roofs of the containers". The roofs of these containers were opened remotely and the drones were flown by their operators to their targets;{{Cite news |url=https://www.ukrinform.ua/rubric-ato/3999440-specoperaciu-pavutina-gotuvali-ponad-pivtora-roku-dzerelo.html |script-title=uk:Спецоперацію «Павутина» готували понад півтора року – джерело |trans-title=Special Operation Spider's Web was prepared for over a year and a half—source |date=1 June 2025 |website=Ukrinform |language=uk |access-date=1 June 2025}}{{Cite news |url=https://lb.ua/society/2025/06/01/679517_fpv_shovali_pid_dahi_mobilnih.html |script-title=uk:FPV сховали під дахи мобільних будиночків: деталі про історичну операцію СБУ 'Павутина' |trans-title=FPV hidden under the roofs of mobile homes: details about the historical SBU operation 'Spider's Web' |lang=Ukrainian |date=1 June 2025 |website=LB.ua |first=Ivanna |last=Kapustianska |access-date=1 June 2025 |archive-date=1 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250601125926/https://lb.ua/society/2025/06/01/679517_fpv_shovali_pid_dahi_mobilnih.html |url-status=live }} the drones of one such were attacked by shocked onlookers with stones and small arms fire, the only direct action taken against them.

The drones were controlled with the open source software ArduPilot, which supports navigation via dead reckoning.{{Cite web |last=Hiltscher |first=Johannes |date=3 June 2025 |title=Die Software hinter Operation Spinnennetz|language=de|trans-title=The software behind Operation Spiderweb|url=https://www.golem.de/news/ardupilot-die-software-hinter-operation-spinnennetz-2506-196797.html |access-date=2025-06-03 |website=Golem.de|quote=... Berichten zufolge [soll] das russische Mobilfunknetz genutzt worden sein ... Auch eine grobe Positionierung über das Mobilfunknetz oder A-GPS würde bereits ausreichen. Kennt die Drohne einmal ihre Position, kann sie allein anhand anderer Sensordaten weiterfliegen – Unterstützung für sogenanntes Dead Reckoning bringt Ardupilot fertig mit.|trans-quote=.. the Russian mobile network is reported to have been used ... Even rough positioning via the cellular network or A-GPS would be sufficient. Once the drone knows its position, it can continue flying based solely on other sensor data – Ardupilot comes with built-in support for what is called dead reckoning.}} Zelenskyy said that each drone had its own pilot to launch and command it remotely. One analyst explained that the drones were operated via dead reckoning without the need for satellite navigation, making them impervious to jamming of such navigation signals. The analyst suggested that the drones were using SIM cards for digital communication over local mobile telephone networks, allowing control by a pilot far away and supporting high-resolution video.

Ukrainian sources said that the agents who prepared the operation on Russian territory were evacuated before the attacks began.{{cite news |url=https://texty.org.ua/fragments/115198/znyshennya-41-litaka-stratehichnoyi-aviaciyi-rf-yak-hotuvaly-specoperaciyu-pavutyna-foto/ |script-title=uk:Знищення 41 літака стратегічної авіації РФ. Як готували спецоперацію 'Павутина'|date=1 June 2025 |publisher=Texty.org.ua |trans-title=The destruction of 41 Russian strategic aircraft. How the special operation 'Web' was prepared |language=uk |accessdate=1 June 2025}}

Strikes

As many as 117 first-person view (FPV) Ukrainian drones targeted five Russian airbases: Belaya, Dyagilevo, Ivanovo Severny, Olenya,{{Cite news |date=1 June 2025 |title=Ukraine drones strike bombers during major attack in Russia |first1=Paul |last1=Adams |first2=Jaroslav |last2=Lukiv |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1ld7ppre9vo|access-date=1 June 2025 |website=BBC |language=en}} and Ukrainka.{{cite news |last1=Zoria |first1=Yuri |title=Trojan truck op: Kyiv destroys '34%' of Russia's strategic bomber fleet within hours with truck-launched FPV drones |url=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/ |website=Euromaidan Press |access-date=2 June 2025 |date=2 June 2025}}{{cite news |last1=Orlova |first1=Alisa |last2=Zakharchenko |first2=Kateryna |title='Spiderweb' Strikes Cripple 34% of Russian Bomber Fleet in $7 Billion Blow, SBU Confirms |url=https://www.kyivpost.com/post/53749 |website=Kyiv Post |access-date=2 June 2025 |date=1 June 2025}} The SBU claims to have hit more than 40 Russian military aircraft, including Tu-160, Tu-95 and Tu-22M strategic bombers, and A-50 airborne early warning and control aircraft.{{Cite news |date=1 June 2025 |title=Ukraine reportedly strikes down over 40 Russian strategic bombers |url=https://www.euronews.com/2025/06/01/ukraine-reportedly-strikes-down-over-40-russian-strategic-bombers-in-mass-drone-attack |access-date=1 June 2025 |website=Euronews |language=en}} One drone's footage showed it landing on a Tu-95 bomber's wing close to the fuel tanks; that of others soon followed.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/world/trump-said-he-spoke-with-putin-after-ukraine-drone-attack-6dcc835b|title=Russia Plans to Respond to Drone Attack, Trump Says After Call With Putin|first=Natalie|last=Andrews|website=WSJ|access-date=4 June 2025|archive-date=4 June 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250604195721/https://www.wsj.com/world/trump-said-he-spoke-with-putin-after-ukraine-drone-attack-6dcc835b|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cx2xrz4yqvwt|title=BBC Verify Live: New satellite images show damaged Russian bombers from Ukraine drone attack|website=BBC News|access-date=4 June 2025|archive-date=4 June 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250604123412/https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cx2xrz4yqvwt|url-status=live}} The drones attacked with very high precision; each pilot, working from Ukraine, aimed at vulnerable points such as fuel tanks in the wings.{{cite news | last=Adams | first=Paul | title=Are the surprise airfield attacks a turning point for Ukraine? | publisher=BBC News | date=4 June 2025 | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn4gp2g7g47o | archive-date=4 June 2025 | access-date=4 June 2025 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250604212520/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn4gp2g7g47o | url-status=live }} Images appear to show that some attacked aircraft were loaded with cruise missiles; the large fireballs also imply that the tanks were full, suggesting that the aircraft were prepared to conduct strikes.{{cite news| last1=Brown | first1=Paul | last2=Spencer | first2=Thomas | title=Satellite images show Russian bombers destroyed in Ukraine attack | publisher=BBC News | date=4 June 2025 | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvg9zdxwk29o}}

Immediately following the attacks Russian officials announced a state of emergency at Engels and Morozovsk air bases.{{Cite news |last=Kostenko |first=Viktor |date=1 June 2025 |title= |script-title=uk:Ще три російські військові аеродроми під дроновою атакою |trans-title=Three more Russian military air fields are under drone attack |url=https://www.dsnews.ua/ukr/world/shche-tri-rosiyski-viyskovi-aerodromi-pid-dronovoyu-atakoyu-01062025-522883 |access-date=1 June 2025 |website=dsnews.ua |language=uk}} Zelenskyy said that an 'office' for the operation was located near an office of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), and that 34% of Russia's strategic cruise missile carriers stationed at airbases had been hit.

=Olenya=

In May 2025 media reported about the mass deployment of strategic aviation aircraft to the Olenya air base, south of Murmansk{{Cite news|url=https://www1.ru/news/2025/05/31/rossiia-perebrosila-40-bombardirovshhikov-tu-22m3-i-okolo-20-vsex-tu-95ms-na-novyi-aerodrom.html |title=Россия перебросила 40 бомбардировщиков Ту-22М3 и около 20% всех Ту-95МС на новый аэродром |trans-title=Russia has moved 40 Tu-22M3 bombers and about 20 percent of all Tu-95MSs to a new airfield |lang=ru |first=Maksim |last=Borisov |website=WWW1|date=2025-05-31 |access-date=2025-06-01}} and according to the OSINT project AviVector, as of May 26, two Tu-95MSs, three Tu-160s, and two Su-34s were based at the airbase.{{cite news |url=https://www.agents.media/ukraina-za-odin-den-unichtozhila-i-povredila-ne-menee-6-rossijskih-strategicheskih-bombardirovshhikov/ |title=Украина за один день уничтожила и повредила не менее 6 % российских стратегических бомбардировщиков |trans-title=Ukraine destroyed and damaged at least 6% of Russian strategic bombers in one day |work=Агентство |via=agents.media |date=1 June 2025 |archive-date=2 June 2025 |access-date=2 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250602101221/https://www.agents.media/ukraina-za-odin-den-unichtozhila-i-povredila-ne-menee-6-rossijskih-strategicheskih-bombardirovshhikov/ |url-status=live }}

The attack on Olenya was carried out with the drones launching from a truck at a gas station. There were at least 10 explosions.{{cite news |url=https://zona.media/news/2025/06/01/drones |title=Беспилотники атаковали военные аэродромы с дальней авиацией в нескольких регионах России; украинские СМИ называют удар операцией СБУ |trans-title=Drones attacked military airfields with long-range aviation in several regions of Russia; Ukrainian media call the strike an SBU operation |work=zona.media |lang=ru |date=1 June 2025 |access-date=2 June 2025 |archive-date=1 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250601134524/https://zona.media/news/2025/06/01/drones |url-status=live }} The authorities forbade the public from entering or leaving Olenegorsk.{{cite news |url=https://www.dw.com/ru/udar-vsu-po-strategiceskoj-aviacii-rf-stal-krupnejsim-v-istorii-eksperty/a-72750436 |title=Удар ВСУ по стратегической авиации РФ стал крупнейшим в истории — эксперты |trans-title=The Ukrainian Armed Forces' strike on Russia's strategic aviation was the largest in history—experts |work=Deutsche Welle |date=2025-06-01 |access-date=2025-06-01 |language=ru}} Residents of Olenegorsk reported explosions and fire with a video of the aftermath being later published. Russian media reported the attack at Olenya but said that air defences were working.

According to OSINT analyses by among others Jane's Intelligence four Tu-95 bombers and one An-12 transport plane were destroyed at Olenya.{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/2025/06/03/ukraine-attack-russian-bombers-damage/ |title=Ukraine's 'Operation Spiderweb' hit at least 13 planes, visuals show |first1=Sarah |last1=Cahlan |first2=Jonathan |last2=Baran |newspaper=Washington Post |date=2025-06-04 |access-date=2025-06-04}}{{Cite news|url= https://abcnews.go.com/International/aftermath-ukraine-drone-strike-russian-airfields-shown-satellite/story?id=122514076 |website= abcnews.go.com |title= Aftermath of Ukraine drone strike on Russian airfields shown in satellite imagery |first1= Helena |last1= Skinner |first2= Chris |last2= Looft |first3= Kerem |last3= Inal |date= 2025-06-05 |access-date= 2025-06-05}}

=Belaya=

An attack was carried out on the Belaya air base, in Irkutsk Oblast, confirmed by local residents and governor Igor Kobzev, who said that there was a "drop on an old building" in {{Ill|Novomaltinsk|ru|Новомальтинск}}. As at Olenya, the drones were launched from trucks. This was the first Ukrainian strike in Siberia during the war. The 200th Guards Heavy Bomber Aviation Brest Red Banner Regiment, armed with Tu-22M3 strategic bombers, is stationed at the airbase. The governor showed footage of a plume of smoke.{{cite news |title=Ukraine attacks Russian nuclear-capable bombers in Siberia |first=Tom |last=Balmforth |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/ukraine-attacks-russian-nuclear-capable-bombers-siberia-2025-06-01/ |access-date=1 June 2025 |work=Reuters |date=1 June 2025}} According to the OSINT project AviVector, the day before the attack there were 52 strategic aircraft (35 Tu-22M3 bombers, 6 Tu-95MS bombers, and 7 Tu-160 bombers), 30 MiG-31 fighters, and 8 auxiliary and transport aircraft at the airbase.

On 2 June, OSINT analysis of commercial satellite photos confirmed three destroyed Tu-95 bombers, one possibly damaged Tu-95, a destroyed Tu-22M3 bomber,{{Cite news |last= |first= |title=Ukraine targets Russian airfields in major drone attack |url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/russian-railway-bridges-collapse-2-regions-bordering-ukraine/story?id=122391100 |access-date=2025-06-02 |website=ABC News |language=en}} and three possibly destroyed Tu-22M3 bombers.{{Cite web |date=2025-06-02 |title=Satellite images from Olenya show 4 strategic bombers destroyed |url=https://www.thebarentsobserver.com/security/satellite-images-from-olenya-show-4-strategic-bombers-destroyed/431046/ |website=The Barents Observer |author=Atle Staalesen |access-date=2025-06-04 |language=en}}

=Dyagilevo=

Attacks were reported on the Dyagilevo airfield near Ryazan.{{Cite news|url=https://www.moscowtimes.ru/2025/06/01/ukraina-atakovala-bazi-strategicheskih-bombardirovschikov-vmurmanskoi-irkutskoi-iryazanskoi-oblastyah-a164927|title=Украина атаковала базы стратегических бомбардировщиков в Мурманской, Иркутской и Рязанской областях привезенными на фурах дронами|lang=ru |trans-title=Ukraine attacks strategic bomber bases in Murmansk and Irkutsk regions with drones delivered in trucks |website=Русская служба The Moscow Times |date=2025-06-01|access-date=2025-06-01}} The local governor confirmed the attack and stated that a fragment of a drone that had been shot down damaged the roof of a residential building, with no injuries. At least seven explosions were reported.{{cite news |website=istories.media |url=https://istories.media/news/2025/06/01/ukraina-provela-seriyu-atak-na-aerodromi-v-rossii-glavnoe/ |date=1 June 2025 |access-date=2 June 2025 |title=Украина провела серию атак на ядерные объекты России. Главное |trans-title=Ukraine has carried out a series of attacks on Russian nuclear facilities. Main |archive-date=2 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250602000931/https://istories.media/news/2025/06/01/ukraina-provela-seriyu-atak-na-aerodromi-v-rossii-glavnoe/ |url-status=live }} The Tu-95MS and Tu-22M3 bombers based there were not hit; only grass was burnt.

=Ivanovo Severny=

An attack was reported on the Ivanovo Severny air base near Ivanovo, but local authorities did not report the attack. The Ivanovo base was previously struck on 23 May 2025.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.currenttime.tv/a/33422547.html |title=Атака дронов по России: ПВО в Москве, удары по Липецкой области и Иваново |date=2025-05-23 |language=ru |access-date=2025-06-02 |trans-title=Drone attack on Russia: air defense in Moscow, strikes on Lipetsk region and Ivanovo |via=currenttime.tv}} According to The Moscow Times, the A-50 was likely hit here. On 3 June, The Daily Telegraph reported to have viewed a three-minute long video where the radar domes of two A-50s at Ivanovo Severny were struck.{{cite news |url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/06/03/ukraine-strikes-putin-prized-spy-plane/ |website= telegraph.co.uk |title= Ukraine strikes Putin's prized spy planes |first1= Joe |last1= Barnes |first2= James |last2= Rushton |date= 2025-06-03 |access-date= 2025-06-04 |archive-date= 3 June 2025 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20250603190124/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/06/03/ukraine-strikes-putin-prized-spy-plane/ |url-status= live }} On 4 June the Security Service of Ukraine published video footage claimed to be from Ivanovo Severny where two FPV drones touch down on two A-50 radar domes.{{cite web|url= https://ssu.gov.ua/novyny/sbu-pokazala-unikalni-kadry-spetsoperatsii-pavutyna-u-rezultati-yakoi-urazheno-41-viiskovyi-litak-stratehichnoi-aviatsii-rf-video |website= Security Service of Ukraine |title= СБУ показала унікальні кадри спецоперації «Павутина», у результаті якої уражено 41 військовий літак стратегічної авіації рф (відео) |trans-title= The SBU showed unique footage of the special operation "Web", which resulted in the destruction of 41 Russian strategic aviation military aircraft (video) |date= 2025-06-04 |access-date= 2025-06-06 |lang=uk}} It is unclear if the A-50s damaged were in a usable state with at least one missing engines and both having worn radomes.{{cite news |last=Newdick |first=Thomas |date=4 June 2025 |title=Confirmed Losses Of Russian Aircraft Mount After Ukrainian Drone Assault |url=https://www.twz.com/air/firm-evidence-of-russian-aircraft-losses-after-ukrainian-drone-strikes |work=The War Zone |publisher=Recurrent Ventures |access-date=5 June 2025 |archive-date=4 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250604214841/https://www.twz.com/air/firm-evidence-of-russian-aircraft-losses-after-ukrainian-drone-strikes |url-status=live }}

=Ukrainka=

The attack on the Ukrainka air base (near Seryshevo in Amur Oblast) failed when the truck carrying the drones caught fire and exploded.{{cite news |date=1 June 2025 |title=Deep web. Ukraine used drones hidden in mobile huts to strike airbases thousands of kilometres inside Russia |url=https://en.zona.media/article/2025/06/01/web |access-date=2 June 2025 |work=Mediazona}}

=Gallery=

File:2025-06-01 DroneAttack SBU.jpg|Burning Tu-95s at Olenya air base

File:Operation Spider's Web, Tu-22 type bomber at Belaya air base.png|Tu-22M3 targeted at Belaya air base

File:Operation Spider's Web, Tu-22 type bombers under attack at Belaya air base.png|Belaya air base under attack

File:Operation Spider's Web, Tu-22 type bomber at Dyagilevo air base.png|Tu-22M3 targeted at Dyagilevo air base

File:Operation Spider's Web, two A-50 at Ivanovo Severny air base.png|A-50 targeted at Ivanovo Severny air base

Aftermath

File:2025-06-01 DroneAttack SBU (Zelensky and Malyuk).jpg

Ukrainian officials said that the strikes damaged one-third of Russia's strategic cruise missile carriers, estimated to be worth {{USD|7}} billion,{{Cite news |url=https://meduza.io/news/2025/06/01/sbu-v-hode-spetsoperatsii-pautina-porazhena-tret-rossiyskih-strategicheskih-nositeley-krylatyh-raket-obschey-stoimostyu-sem-milliardov-dollarov |title=СБУ: в ходе операции «Паутина» поражена треть российских стратегических носителей крылатых ракет общей стоимостью семь миллиардов долларов |date=1 June 2025 |work=Meduza |lang=ru |trans-title=SBU: during Operation Spider Web one-third of Russian strategic cruise missile carriers at the cost of seven billion dollars were struck |access-date=1 June 2025}} with $2000 drones. The Institute for the Study of War noted in its initial analysis that Russia's capacity to launch long-range missiles and drones into Ukraine may have been at least temporarily constrained, and that some of the older strategic aircraft hit could not be replaced as they were no longer in production.{{cite web |first1=Olivia |last1=Gibson |first2=Anna |last2=Harvey |first3=Daria |last3=Novikov |first4=Christina |last4=Harward |first5=Kateryna |last5=Stepanenko |title=Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, June 1, 2025 |date=June 1, 2025 |access-date=2 June 2025 |url=https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-june-1-2025 |publisher=Institute for the Study of War |language=en |archive-date=2 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250602042514/https://understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-june-1-2025 |url-status=live }} These include the Tupolev family of Cold War strategic nuclear bombers, hence severely degrading one leg of Russia's nuclear triad capability. The Wall Street Journal suggested that the failure of intelligence to forestall the attacks could increase what it called the "paranoia" of Russian president Vladimir Putin and lead to yet more purges in Russia's domestic intelligence services.{{Cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/world/ukraines-stunning-assault-upends-russias-global-military-strategy-094f8c1c |title=Ukraine's Stunning Assault Roils Russia's Global Military Strategy |first1=Daniel |last1=Michaels |first2=Jane |last2=Lytvynenko |date=2 June 2025 |newspaper=WSJ |archive-date=2 June 2025 |access-date=2 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250602142506/https://www.wsj.com/world/ukraines-stunning-assault-upends-russias-global-military-strategy-094f8c1c |url-status=live }} Some commentators and Russian military bloggers called the event Russia's Pearl Harbor.{{cite news |last=Smith |first=Alexander |title=Ukraine's massive drone attack deep inside Russia lays bare Putin's vulnerability |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/world/ukraine/ukraines-massive-drone-attack-deep-russia-lays-bare-putins-vulnerabili-rcna210300 |website=NBC News |access-date=2 June 2025 |language=en |date=2 June 2025}}

The Russian Ministry of Defence referred to the operation as a "terrorist attack",{{cite news |title=Russia confirms Ukraine carried out drone attacks on airfields |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cgrg7kelk45t?post=asset%3Af4a964f1-a182-4164-b6df-56e674a1b707#post |access-date=1 June 2025 |url-status=live |publisher=BBC |date=1 June 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.ph/3SbHM |archive-date=1 June 2025}} noting attacks on air bases in five regions of Russia but claiming that the attacks had been repelled in three of the regions.{{Cite news |last=Ravid |first=Barak |date=2025-06-01 |title=Ukraine launches massive drone strike on air bases deep inside Russia |url=https://www.axios.com/2025/06/01/ukraine-drone-strikes-russia |access-date=2025-06-01 |website=Axios |language=en}} It confirmed damage to aircraft at the Olenya and Belaya air bases.

TASS reported that a truck driver alleged to be involved in the attack was to be questioned by police.{{cite news |title=Russian authorities detain truck driver thought to be involved in attack |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cgrg7kelk45t?post=asset%3A6f21bb15-cc34-42a5-a466-9ddf4d50e57b#post |access-date=1 June 2025 |agency=BBC |date=1 June 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/3SbHM |archive-date=1 June 2025}} The Russian defence ministry said that there were no casualties in the attacks they admitted, in the regions of Murmansk and Irkutsk, and that several "participants" had been arrested, although Zelenskyy said that all operatives had safely been withdrawn from Russia. The BBC, citing unverified reports on Russian Telegram channel Baza, known for its links to the Russian security services, said that the drivers of the drone trucks all told similar stories of innocently delivering purported wooden cabins, receiving instructions on where to park the trucks by mobile phone. One driver interviewed by Russian state news agency Ria Novosti said he and other drivers were surprised by the emerging drones, and tried to knock them down by throwing stones.{{cite news| last=Gozzi| first=Laura| title=BBC Verify: How Ukraine carried out daring 'Spider Web' attack on Russian bombers| publisher=BBC News| date=2 June 2025| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cq69qnvj6nlo| archive-date=3 June 2025| access-date=3 June 2025| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250603103324/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cq69qnvj6nlo| url-status=live}}

An article published by Russia's Pravda.ru pointed out that attacks on nuclear-capable aircraft could undermine the effectiveness of Russia's nuclear forces, and "According to the 'Basic Principles of the State Policy of the Russian Federation on Nuclear Deterrence,' such actions fall under conditions that may justify the use of nuclear weapons".{{cite news | last=Mihayloff | first=Andrey | title=Ukraine Attacks Part of Russia's Nuclear Triad. Russia May Strike Nuclear Blow in Response | publisher=Pravda.ru (English edition) | date=2 June 2025 | url=https://english.pravda.ru/hotspots/162641-ukraine-russia-nuclear-blow/ | archive-date=4 June 2025 | access-date=4 June 2025 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250604014801/https://english.pravda.ru/hotspots/162641-ukraine-russia-nuclear-blow/ | url-status=live }}

On June 4 U.S. president Donald Trump initiated a long call with Putin which dealt mainly with the attack. "I just finished speaking, by telephone, with President Vladimir Putin, of Russia," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "The call lasted approximately one hour and 15 minutes. We discussed the attack on Russia's {{Sic|docked}} airplanes, by Ukraine, and also various other attacks that have been taking place by both sides."{{cite news| url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-putin-phone-call-ukraine-drone-strike/ | title=Trump says he spoke with Putin, and Putin plans to respond to Ukraine drone strike|last=Watson|first=Kathryn|date=4 June 2025| publisher=CBS News }} The Kremlin confirmed the phone call, but a transcript has not been released and the Moscow-Washington hotline was not mentioned.{{cite magazine| last=Popli | first=Nik | title=Trump Warns Putin Plans to Retaliate 'Very Strongly' Against Ukraine | magazine=TIME | date=4 June 2025 | url=https://time.com/7291210/trump-says-putin-plans-to-retaliate-against-ukraine/}}

On 6 June 2025, the Ukrainian Air Force confirmed that Russian VKS started using Tu-160 bombers to launch cruise missiles due to loss of Tu-95 bombers from Operation Spider's Web.{{cite news|url= https://militarnyi.com/en/news/russian-tu-160s-strike-ukraine-with-cruise-missiles-as-aggressor-lacks-tu-95-msm-bombers/ |website= militarnyi |title= Russian Tu-160s Strike Ukraine With Cruise Missiles as Aggressor Lacks Tu-95 MSM Bombers |author= Редакція |date= 2025-06-06 |access-date= 2025-06-06}}

Analysis

According to the Financial Times, the damaged and destroyed aircraft made up around 20% of Russia's operational long-range aviation fleet. Many of the aircraft types affected, such as the Tu-95 and Tu-22M3, have not been produced since the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, making them impossible to replace and exceptionally difficult to repair. Military expert William Alberque said that replenishing these losses could take years or even decades, and that the attacks would force Russia to disperse its bomber fleet across multiple airbases, reducing its ability to carry out large-scale strikes aimed at overwhelming Ukrainian air defences.{{cite news |last1=Stognei |first1=Anastasia |last2=Deprez |first2=Fabrice |last3=Miller |first3=Christopher |title='An epic failure': Russia reels from surprise Ukrainian attack on bomber fleet |url=https://www.ft.com/content/132e4327-11da-4412-b36b-7363604879e6 |access-date=3 June 2025 |work=Financial Times |date=3 June 2025 |archive-date=3 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250603102739/https://www.ft.com/content/132e4327-11da-4412-b36b-7363604879e6 |url-status=live }} Fabian Hoffmann at the University of Oslo commented that the loss of the bombers attacked was particularly damaging as they were the most operational examples; many others were undergoing maintenance.

Wall Street Journal columnist Bernard-Henri Lévy compared the operation to Israel's pager attacks on Hezbollah fighters, describing it as one of the most ingenious military operations in history, one that would be studied for ages. He further said that the operation delivered one of the most significant blows to Russia during its invasion of Ukraine, alongside the 2022 sinking of the Moskva warship and attack on the Crimean bridge, retreat of the Russian Black Sea fleet to Novorossiysk due to vulnerability to Ukrainian attack, and the 2024 Kursk offensive.{{cite news |last1=Lévy |first1=Bernard-Henri |title=Drone Attack Shows Why Ukraine Will Win This War |url=https://www.wsj.com/opinion/ukraine-will-win-this-war-drone-attack-in-russia-d74759ac?mod=hp_opin_pos_5 |access-date=3 June 2025 |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=3 June 2025}}

Reactions

On June{{nbsp}}3, Keith Kellogg, U.S. Special Envoy for Ukraine, concluded that the risk of nuclear war between the US and Russia had been unacceptably increased by the attack. One day before the Trump–Putin call, he said, "I'm telling you the risk levels are going way up{{nbsp}}... When you attack an opponent's part of their national survival system, which is their nuclear triad, that means your risk level goes up because you don't know what the other side's going to do." According to Kellogg, in his interview with Fox News, the attacks showed that Kyiv "is not lying down on that{{nbsp}}... Ukraine is basically [saying], 'We can play this game, too.' And they can raise the risk level to levels that are basically, to me, they've got to be unacceptable," he added.{{cite web | url=https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-strike-on-russian-bombers-could-escalate-war-kellogg-says/ | title='Risk level goes up' — Ukraine's strike on Russian bombers could escalate war, US envoy Kellogg says | website=kyivindependent.com | access-date=6 June 2025 | archive-date=4 June 2025 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250604073523/https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-strike-on-russian-bombers-could-escalate-war-kellogg-says/ | url-status=live }}{{dubious|talk=Trump administration comments and fearmongering about WW3|date=June 2025}}

On June{{nbsp}}4, the New York Times reported that Trump remained frustrated with Zelensky, seeing him as a "bad guy" who is pushing the world closer to nuclear conflict, while also seeing Ukraine's resistance as "understandable".{{cite news |last1=Kanno-Youngs |first1=Zolan |last2=Swan |first2=Jonathan |title=Trump Says Putin Plans to Retaliate for Ukrainian Attack on Warplanes |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/04/us/politics/trump-putin-ukraine.html |access-date=6 June 2025 |work=The New York Times |date=2025-06-04}}