Ukraine’s audacious drone strike lit up Russian airfields, leaving Moscow scrambling. On June 1, 2025, Kyiv’s “Operation Spider’s Web” unleashed 117 drones, shredding warplanes and pride. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s gambit, planned in secrecy, caught the Kremlin flat-footed.
Fox News reported that coordinated strikes hit five Russian airfields—Murmansk, Irkutsk, Ivanovo, Ryazan, and Amur—targeting bombers and surveillance planes. Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) executed the 18-month plan, damaging Russia’s long-range missile capabilities.
Drones, hidden in truck-mounted cabins, launched remotely to strike TU-95s, TU-22Ms, and an A-50 radar plane.
Social media videos showed the precision hits, a stark reminder of technology’s edge in modern warfare. Ukraine’s claim of $7 billion in damages sounds lofty, but even Russia admitted fires raged.
The SBU, under General Vasyl Maliuk, orchestrated the operation without tipping off the Pentagon. Zelenskyy boasted it was “achieved solely by Ukraine,” a flex of independence that might irk allies. Keeping Washington in the dark raises questions about trust in wartime coalitions.
Russia’s defense ministry claimed it repelled the attacks, yet confirmed aircraft losses. Labeling it a “terrorist act,” Moscow arrested suspects, signaling internal panic. Actions have consequences, and Russia’s rattled response betrays deeper vulnerabilities.
The strikes, launched from within Russia, gave air defenses like the S-300 little time to react, per BBC analyst Chris Partridge.
Ukrainian personnel slipped out before the drones struck, ensuring no boots were left behind. Zelenskyy’s team played a high-stakes game and walked away clean.
The operation’s timing, just before the June 2 peace talks in Istanbul, was no accident. Ukraine aimed to strengthen its hand, pushing for a ceasefire, prisoner returns, and the recovery of abducted children. Russia’s refusal to agree to terms suggests Kyiv’s drones spoke louder than diplomats.
Zelenskyy personally oversaw the 18-month effort, calling it “our most long-range operation.”
The planning, down to one year, six months, and nine days, shows meticulous resolve. Yet, gambling on escalation risks derailing fragile negotiations.
U.S. officials pegged losses at 11 to 15 bombers, far below Ukraine’s claim of 50. The Pentagon’s uncertainty about whether drones were piloted or autonomous highlights gaps in intelligence. Kyiv’s secrecy might impress, but it leaves allies guessing.
The SBU estimated 34% of Russia’s strategic bombers were hit, a crippling blow if true. Ukrainian experts’ $2 billion damage estimate contrasts with the SBU’s $7 billion, revealing internal spin. Truth often gets lost in wartime math.
Russia’s ability to launch long-range missiles took a hit, per military experts. With airfields in flames, Moscow’s strategic aviation is grounded, at least temporarily. Ukraine’s drones didn’t just destroy planes—they exposed Russia’s soft underbelly.
Zelenskyy thanked Maliuk for the operation’s success, ensuring “our people were withdrawn in time.” The SBU’s execution was surgical, but Russia’s “terrorist” label aims to paint Ukraine as the villain. The moral high ground is slippery in war.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth got a full briefing post-strike, but the lack of prior notice stings. Ukraine’s go-it-alone approach might win battles but risks alienating supporters. Independence is admirable; isolation is dangerous.
The Istanbul talks now loom larger, with Ukraine’s leverage boosted but tensions spiked. Zelenskyy framed the strikes as self-defense, saying they’ll be in “history books.” He’s not wrong, but history judges both victors and reckless escalators.
