Daring Deep-Strike: The "Operation Spiderweb" Drone Attack on Russian Airfields
- By Moritz Dickentmann
- 4 Min
Undercover Sting Operation, Code-named Spiderweb - "Drone Assault under Operation Spidernet" - Insights into the recent aerial attack event
Ukraine's audacious drone attack on Russian military airfields, named "Operation Spiderweb," might just be the top intel coup since the conflict's inception. With strategic bombers reportedly destroyed far beyond the front lines, let's delve into what we know about this dramatic event.
On Monday, the SBU, Ukraine's intelligence service, disclosed some information about the attack via Telegram. While some facts have been corroborated, others remain unverified. Here's a quick summary.
Aimed Airfields and the Strategic Purpose
Both Ukraine and Russia point to four airfields as the targets: Dyagilevo, Olenya, Ivanovo Severny, Belaya (Siberia), and an unsuccessful attack on an airbase in Ukrainka. These airfields arm Russia's strategic bombers—regularly used for strikes against Ukraine with cruise missiles.
Damage Done in the Assault
The SBU claims that a total of 41 aircraft, like A-50, Tu-95, Tu-22M3, and Tu-160, were hit by drones, estimating the damages at over $7 billion. This figure couldn't be independently substantiated. Satellite images suggest at least ten bombers were destroyed in Belaya. There's verified footage from the Olenya base of several aircraft being wiped out or badly damaged, with images of Belaya not initially available.
Andriy Kovalenko, head of Ukraine's Anti-Disinformation Center, wrote on Telegram about no less than 13 destroyed aircraft and over 25 more damaged.
Russia conceded "several aircraft" were destroyed by FPV drones on Belaya and Olenya airbases, without providing specific details about the extent of the damage. However, Russian military bloggers like Rybar also claim several Tu-95 aircraft were destroyed, citing circulating videos as evidence.
And the Action
Media reported on Sunday, citing SBU sources, that the drones stuffed with explosives were hidden in the roofs of wooden shacks, then transported by trucks close to the airbases. The roof panels were opened remotely, allowing the drones to fly out and attack. The SBU officially confirmed this procedure.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated a total of "117 drones and a corresponding number of drone pilots" were deployed, carrying out the operation simultaneously in three time zones and achieving a complex logistical feat. Russia has yet to comment on the timeline of the attacks.
Behind the Curtain: Planning the Web
Planning for Operation Spiderweb reportedly took over a year and a half. Zelensky wrote on his Telegram channel that the enemy bombers were personally targeted by Zelensky and the "special operation" was overseen.
The SBU confirms the drones were initially smuggled into Russia and later hidden in the roofs of wooden huts. Zelensky wrote on Sunday on X, "The most captivating thing, now revealed publicly, is that the 'operation hub' for our operation on Russian soil was located right next to the FSB headquarters in one of their districts."
Videos purportedly show the storage and later assembly of the drones in a warehouse believed to be in Chelyabinsk. A search was conducted there on Sunday, with Russian exile media like "Meduza" reporting traces of the explosive Hexogen found. All personnel involved in Operation Spiderweb have reportedly been back in Ukraine for some time.
- Drone attack
- SBU
- Web
- Russia
- The Commission has also been consulted on the draft directive concerning the strategic implications of the drone attack on Russian airfields, known as "Operation Spiderweb," which has been a topic of general news and politics, given its significance in the ongoing conflict.
- While war-and-conflicts continue to dominate global headlines, the strategic bombers of Russia, targeted in Ukraine's audacious "Operation Spiderweb" drone attack, are not just military equipment; they are also a subject of interest for political discussions, as evidenced by the consideration of the Commission and the wider implications they carry.
