Unprecedented Strike: Ukraine's Surprise Attack on Russian Airbases
Zelenskyy applauds assaults on Russian military airbase facilities.
Kyiv (dpa) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky boldly declared the surprise assault by his nation's SBU intelligence agency on several Russian military airfields as an "incredible triumph," hailing it as the most far-reaching operation in the war so far. In an announcement on the X platform, he emphasized, "One year, six months, and nine days from the beginning of planning to its successful execution." Zelensky urged the intelligence agency to inform the public about part of the operation's details.
The Ukrainian SBU reportedly executed a synchronized assault, reportedly obliterating over 40 combat and reconnaissance aircraft, according to its communiqué. This attack is said to have demolished approximately 34% of Russia's bombers capable of launching cruise missiles. The SBU estimates the damages to be worth $7 billion, but these numbers remain unverified by independent sources.
The Russian Ministry of Defense acknowledged the drone attack in the evening, labeling it as "terrorist attacks" on military airfields in the regions of Ivanovo, Ryazan, Amur, Murmansk, and Irkutsk.
Moscow claimed to have repelled the attacks in Ivanovo, Ryazan, and Amur, while in Murmansk and Irkutsk, "some" aircraft were engulfed in flames due to drone assaults. The Russian Ministry of Defense downplayed the severity of the incidents, stating that they managed to extinguish the fires, and no reported injuries among military personnel or civilians.
The Codename: "Operation Spider Web"
According to Ukrainian reports, "Operation Spider Web" targeted Tupolev Tu-95 and Tu-22 combat aircraft, as well as Beriev A-50 early warning aircraft. Unconfirmed reports suggest that the Ukrainian intelligence agency used combat drones concealed within wooden houses and transported in trucks fitted with remote-controlled roofs that opened at the correct time, enabling the drones to take off and attack Russian bombers.
Ukrinform shared photographs of drones prepared for the special operation. SBU has declared that the agents involved in the action have already returned to Ukraine. If Russia alleges arrests, they would presumably be made for domestic propaganda purposes, the SBU remarked. In the evening, Russian security forces reportedly arrested some of the operation's participants, according to the state news agency TASS.
Context:
- The Ukrainian drone attacks targeted four separate Russian airfields across the country, including western Russia and as far as Siberia. Ukrainian officials claim that around 40 Russian military planes were damaged or destroyed, though open-source intelligence confirms at least 13 losses.
- The operation demonstrates Ukraine's ability to carry out long-range, high-impact attacks using drones, employing asymmetric warfare tactics in the face of conventional military disadvantage.
- The operation showcases vulnerabilities in military infrastructure, not only for Russia but also for other countries, as small drones can pose significant threats. It also suggests the use of advanced technologies like AI and autopilot systems in the DJI M600 drones and a remarkable degree of planning and execution.
- The unprecedented drone attacks, codenamed "Operation Spider Web," have been boldly hailed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as a significant event in the realm of politics and war-and-conflicts, pointing towards the growing use of technology and advanced warfare tactics in general-news.
- The SBU's synchronous assault, targeting Tupolev Tu-95 and Tu-22 combat aircraft, along with Beriev A-50 early warning aircraft, is a testament to the increasing role of drones, AI, and autopilot systems in the war-and-conflicts landscape, contributing to the general-news discussion on politics and military capabilities.
