| Operation Spiderweb | |
|---|---|
| Part of theattacks in Russia during the Russian invasion of Ukraine | |
.jpg) A drone-struckTu-95 at Russia's Olenya airbase | |
| Location | |
| Target | Russian Air Force |
| Date | 1 June 2025 (2025-06-01) |
| Executed by | Security Service of Ukraine |
| Outcome | 10–11 Tu-95MS and Tu-22M3 destroyed (perThe War Zone)[1] 20 military aircraft hit, 10 of which were destroyed (per US)[2] 41 military aircraft hit (per theSecurity Service of Ukraine), at least 13 military aircraft destroyed (perNSDCU)[3] |
Operation Spiderweb[a] (Ukrainian:Операція «Павутина»,romanized: Operátsija "Pavutýna") was acovertdrone attack carried out by theSecurity Service of Ukraine (SBU) deep insideRussia on 1 June 2025, during theRusso-Ukrainian War. The coordinated strikes targeted theRussian Air Force'sLong-Range Aviation assets at five air bases—Belaya,Dyagilevo,Ivanovo Severny,Olenya, andUkrainka—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,[4] according to Ukrainian officials. According to two US officials speaking toReuters, about 20 military aircraft were hit in the attack, ten of which were destroyed.[2] Russia confirmed that the attack took place. The operation was notable for its unprecedented geographical reach—spanning fiveoblasts acrossfive time zones[5]—particularly the strike on Belaya Air Base inEastern Siberia, where damage was confirmed 4,300 km (2,700 mi) from Ukraine.[6][7]
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Ukrainian presidentVolodymyr Zelenskyy said that it took 18 months and 9 days from the start of planning to execution of the operation.[8] American and Ukrainian sources say that the United States was not informed in advance about the attacks.[9][10] According to Ukrainian sources, the plan for the "extremely complex" operation[11] was implemented by the SBU headVasyl Malyuk and his staff, and progress was personally supervised by Zelenskyy.[12]
The drones were Ukrainian-madeOsa ("Wasp") quadcopters, each with a payload of just over 3.2 kilograms (7.1 lb).[13] In Russia approximately 36 were transferred into compartments below the roofs of each of several wooden containers built to resemble regularmobile wooden cabins, which are routinely transported onflatbed trucks[10][7] with the roofs uncovered. TheWall Street Journal later reported that more than 100 quadcopters had been smuggled in parts into and assembled in Russia.[13]
The SBU published photos showing the drones being hidden under the cabin roofs inside a warehouse, later known to have been inChelyabinsk, about 150 km north of the Russia–Kazakhstan border. The wooden sheds were loaded onto trucks, and unsuspecting Russian drivers were hired to drive each truck across Russia towards its target destination. Once the trucks were nearing their targets each driver received a phone call telling them where to stop. As soon as the truck stopped (or just before) the roof was raised by remote control and the drones took off.[14][11] The drones from one of the trucks were attacked by shocked onlookers with stones and small arms fire, the only direct action taken against them.[13]
Reuters has found the location where one truck stopped along the P-255 highway 7 km from the Belaya airbase. Citing the Baza news service, Reuters reported that Russian authorities suspect a 37-year-old Ukrainian national who had moved to Chelyabinsk and opened a freight business there in October 2024, and in December acquired several trucks, from which the drones were eventually launched.[15][16][17]
The drones were guided to their targets remotely, using the open source softwareArduPilot, which supports navigation viadead reckoning.[18] Zelenskyy said that each drone had its own pilot to launch and command it remotely.[15] One analyst explained that the drones were operated via dead reckoning without the need forsatellite navigation, making them impervious to jamming of such navigation signals. The analyst suggested that the drones were usingSIM cards for digital communication and position information over localmobile telephone networks, allowing control by a pilot far away and supporting high-resolution video.[19][18]
However, to counteract thetime delay inevitable in communication over long distances, and cope with temporary loss of the control signal, the devices supportedartificial intelligence (AI) to be used in these cases,[20] using the latest version of technology known for many years.[21][22]
The AI had to be trained in preparation for the operation to teach it tocorrectly identify its target aircraft and to guide the drone to its vulnerable spots. TheTu-22M3s in thePoltava Museum of Long-Range and Strategic Aviation were used fortarget recognition training.[20]Ukrainian sources said that the agents who prepared the operation on Russian territory were evacuated before the attacks began.[23]
As many as 117first-person view (FPV)[24] Ukrainian drones targeted five Russian airbases:Belaya,Dyagilevo,Ivanovo Severny,Olenya,[25] andUkrainka.[26][27] TheSBU claims to have hit more than 40 Russian military aircraft, includingTu-160,Tu-95, andTu-22Mstrategic bombers, andA-50airborne early warning and control aircraft.[28] One drone's footage showed it landing on a Tu-95 bomber's wing close to the fuel tanks; that of others soon followed.[29][30] The drones attacked with very high precision; each pilot, working from Ukraine, aimed at vulnerable points such as fuel tanks in the wings.[31] Video released by SBU show Tu-95 bombers armed withKh-101 cruise missiles being destroyed; the large fireballs also imply that the tanks were full, suggesting that the aircraft had been prepared to conduct strikes.[32][33][34]
Immediately following the attacks Russian officials announced a state of emergency atEngels andMorozovsk air bases.[35] Zelenskyy said that an 'office' for the operation was located near an office of the RussianFederal Security Service (FSB), and that 34% of Russia's strategic cruise missile carriers stationed at airbases had been hit.[25]
In May 2025 media reported about the mass deployment of strategic aviation aircraft to the Olenya air base, south ofMurmansk[36] and according to theOSINT project AviVector, as of May 26, two Tu-95MSs, three Tu-160s, and two Su-34s were based at the airbase.[37]
The attack on Olenya was carried out with the drones launching from a truck at a gas station. There were at least 10 explosions.[38] The authorities forbade the public from entering or leaving Olenegorsk.[39][40] Residents ofOlenegorsk reported explosions and fire with a video of the aftermath being later published.[39] Russian media reported the attack at Olenya but said that air defences were working.[25]
According to OSINT analyses byJane's Intelligence and others, four Tu-95 bombers and oneAn-12 transport plane were destroyed at Olenya.[41][42]
An attack was reported on the Ivanovo Severny air base nearIvanovo,[40][39] but local authorities did not report the attack.[39] The Ivanovo base was previously struck on 23 May 2025.[43] According toThe Moscow Times, theA-50 was likely hit here.[39] On 3 June,The Daily Telegraph reported to have viewed a three-minute-long video showing the radar domes of two A-50s at Ivanovo Severny being struck.[44] On 4 June the Security Service of Ukraine published video footage claimed to be from Ivanovo Severny in which two FPV drones touch down on two A-50 radar domes.[45] It is unclear if the A-50s damaged were in a usable state, with at least one missing engines and both having wornradomes.[1]
The attack on the Ukrainka air base (nearSeryshevo inAmur Oblast) failed when the truck carrying the drones caught fire and exploded.[17][26]
An attack was carried out on the Belaya air base, inIrkutsk Oblast, confirmed by local residents and governor Igor Kobzev, who said that there was a "drop on an old building" inNovomaltinsk [ru]. 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 withTu-22M3 strategic bombers, is stationed at the airbase.[40][39] The governor showed footage of a plume of smoke.[46] According to the OSINT project AviVector, the day before the attack there were 52 strategic aircraft (35Tu-22M3 bombers, 6Tu-95MS bombers, and 7Tu-160 bombers), 30MiG-31 fighters, and 8 auxiliary and transport aircraft at the airbase.[37]
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,[47] and three possibly destroyed Tu-22M3 bombers.[27][48] On 4 June, combined analysis ofsynthetic aperture radar andMaxar satellite imagery showed destruction of four Tu-22M3 and three Tu-95MS as well as one possibly damaged Tu-95MS.[1]
Attacks were reported on the Dyagilevo airfield nearRyazan.[40][39] 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.[39] At least seven explosions were reported.[49] TheTu-95MS andTu-22M3 bombers based there[39] were not hit; only grass was burnt.[13]
Although Ukraine appears to have targeted and damaged Tu-160s, some analysts believe Russia's Tu-160 fleet is largely still intact.[50]
| Tu-95 type | Tu-22M3 | An-12 | A-50 | Aircraft | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Olenya | Belaya | Belaya | Olenya | Ivanovo Severny | Total |
| 4 | 3-4 | 4 | 1 | 2 (targeted) | 12-13 + 2 targeted |
Ukrainian officials said that the strikes damaged one-third of Russia's strategic cruise missile carriers, estimated to be worthUS$7 billion,[51] with $2000 drones.[further explanation needed][13] TheInstitute 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.[24] TheTupolev Tu-95MS andTupolev Tu-22M3 bombers have been out of production for decades and cannot be replaced.[1]Long Range Aviation's strategic nuclear capability appears to have been severely degraded.The Wall Street Journal suggested that the failure ofintelligence to forestall the attacks could increase what it called the "paranoia" of Russian presidentVladimir Putin and lead to yet more purges in Russia's domestic intelligence services.[52] Some commentators andRussian military bloggers called the event Russia'sPearl Harbor.[53]
TheRussian Ministry of Defence referred to the operation as a "terrorist attack",[54] noting attacks on air bases in five regions of Russia but claiming that the attacks had been repelled in three of the regions.[9] It confirmed damage to aircraft at the Olenya and Belaya air bases.[5]
TASS reported that a truck driver alleged to be involved in the attack was to be questioned by police.[55] 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 President Zelenskyy said that all operatives had safely been withdrawn from Russia.[15][7] The BBC, citing unverified reports on RussianTelegram 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 agencyRia Novosti said he and other drivers were surprised by the emerging drones, and tried to knock them down by throwing stones.[15] It was later confirmed that four of the truck drivers had been detained and charged on charges of terrorism while the fifth driver died when his truck caught fire.[56]
An article published by Russia'sPravda.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".[19]
On 4 June 2025, U.S. presidentDonald 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 onTruth Social. "The call lasted approximately one hour and 15 minutes. We discussed the attack on Russia's docked [sic] airplanes, by Ukraine, and also various other attacks that have been taking place by both sides." He stated that Putin told him that Russia would retaliate.[57] The Kremlin confirmed the phone call, but a transcript has not been released and theMoscow-Washington hotline was not mentioned.[58]
On 6 June 2025, it was reported inNewsweek that the Ukrainian Air Force had said that "Russia used a Tu-160 in intensive overnight missile and drone strikes across Ukraine",[59] following a report by Ukraine'smilitarnyi that theRussian VKS had started using Tu-160 bombers to launch 36 Kh-101 cruise missiles, due to loss ofTu-95 bombers from Operation Spider's Web.[60] Further, the report inNewsweek said that Russia had moved its strategic bomber force further east, potentially to reduce the risk of follow on attacks. However, former intelligence analyst Frank Ledwidge noted in the same article that the move could be part of a planned rotation or normal security move.[59]
According to theFinancial 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 thedissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, making them impossible to replace and exceptionally difficult to repair.[15] 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.[61] Indeed, many sources report that Russia "has relocated dozens of its strategic bombers to more remote airbases across the country".[62][63] 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.[61]
Wall Street Journal columnistBernard-Henri Lévy compared the operation to Israel'spager attacks onHezbollah 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 2022sinking of theMoskva warship andattack on the Crimean bridge, retreat of the RussianBlack Sea fleet toNovorossiysk due to vulnerability to Ukrainian attack, and the2024 Kursk offensive.[64]
... 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.[.. 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.]
while Tu-95s and Tu-22s were struck, the Tu-160 fleet seemingly remains intact
Satellite photos analyzed byThe Associated Press on Wednesday show seven destroyed bombers on thetarmac at a Russian air base in eastern Siberia
TheSecurity Service of Ukraine (SBU) has published new drone footage from Operation Spiderweb...targeting four Russian airbases with low-costFPV (First-Person View) drones.
(Kyiv Post Correspondent Jason Jay Smart talks about Operation Spider's Web with formerNavy SEALChuck Pfarrer)
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