On June 1, 2025, Ukraine launched a significant drone assault on Russian military airbases, resulting in the destruction of over 40 aircraft, including strategic bombers such as the Tu-95, Tu-22M3, and surveillance planes like the A-50. The operation, named “Spider’s Web,” was meticulously planned over 18 months and executed by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU). Drones were concealed within the roofs of wooden sheds, which were transported by trucks and deployed remotely at five Russian airbases, including sites in Siberia, the Arctic Circle, and regions surrounding Moscow .
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hailed the operation as a “brilliant” success, noting its unprecedented geographical reach and the innovative use of autonomous drones. The Ukrainian Security Service estimates that the attack destroyed 34% of Russia’s strategic cruise missile carriers, causing damages exceeding $7 billion, though these figures remain unverified .
In response, Russia launched its most extensive drone assault on Ukraine since the 2022 invasion, deploying 472 drones and seven missiles, resulting in the deaths of 12 Ukrainian soldiers and injuries to over 60 others. These escalations occurred just before new peace talks were scheduled in Istanbul, with Ukraine confirming it would send a delegation led by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov .
This development underscores heightened tensions and advanced military tactics ahead of diplomatic efforts to resolve the ongoing conflict.
