Ukraine’s bold drone operation has severely crippled Russia’s bomber fleet, destroying dozens of aircraft and causing billions in damage during a covert mission that was 18 months in the making.

At a Glance

• Ukraine’s “Operation Spider’s Web” damaged or destroyed 41 Russian bomber aircraft, including some capable of carrying nuclear weapons
• The attack was planned over 18 months and coordinated from within Russia, striking multiple airbases deep in Russian territory
• Ukrainian officials claim the strikes caused over $7 billion in damage to Russia’s bomber fleet, affecting approximately 34% of their cruise missile carriers
• Russia’s ambassador to the UK accused Britain of providing Ukraine with advanced technology and intelligence for the attack
• Despite the escalation, Russian and Ukrainian delegations met in Istanbul for peace negotiations

An Unprecedented Drone Attack on Russian Air Assets

Ukraine’s Security Service (SSU) executed a sophisticated drone attack against multiple Russian military airbases in early June, striking strategic bomber units deep inside Russian territory. The operation, dubbed “Spider’s Web,” required extensive planning and covert operations to smuggle drones into Russia, store them in freight trucks near target locations, and launch them in coordinated waves against high-value military assets. The strikes reportedly damaged or destroyed 41 Russian bomber aircraft at bases including Belaya, Olenya, Ivanovo, and Dyagilevo, some located hundreds of miles from Ukraine’s border.

The attack specifically targeted Russia’s strategic bomber fleet, which Moscow has used to launch cruise missile attacks against Ukrainian cities and infrastructure. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with SSU Head Vasyl Malyuk regarding the operation, which Ukrainian officials claim caused over $7 billion in damage to Russia’s air capabilities. Defense analyst Serhii Kuzan emphasized the significance of the operation, noting the difficulty Russia will face in replacing or repairing the damaged aircraft.

Russia’s Response and International Tensions

Russia’s ambassador to the UK, Andrei Kelin, has publicly accused Britain of complicity in the drone attacks, suggesting the UK provided Ukraine with advanced technology and intelligence support. The accusation comes amid growing international tension, with Kelin warning that Ukrainian strikes are escalating the conflict toward potentially catastrophic consequences. The Kremlin has indicated it would respond to the attack “at a time and manner deemed appropriate by the military,” raising concerns about further escalation.

“No intelligence operation in the world has done anything like this before,” said defense analyst Serhii Kuzan. “These strategic bombers are capable of launching long-range strikes against us. There are only 120 of them and we struck 40. That’s an incredible figure.”

In retaliation for the drone strikes, Russia launched missile attacks against Ukrainian cities, resulting in civilian casualties. The head of Ukraine’s SBU intelligence agency defended the operation, stating that Russia “thought that it could bomb Ukraine and endlessly kill Ukrainians with impunity. But that is not the case. We will respond to Russian terror and destroy the enemy everywhere — at sea, in the air, and on land.” The exchange highlights the escalating nature of the conflict as both sides employ increasingly sophisticated tactics.

Peace Talks Amid Escalating Conflict

Despite the dramatic escalation in hostilities, Russian and Ukrainian delegations met in Istanbul for peace negotiations shortly after the drone strikes. Ukraine proposed a 30-day ceasefire across all combat zones as a prerequisite for substantive peace talks. Their demands included the return of Ukrainian children and hostages, non-recognition of Russian territorial claims since 2014, and the use of frozen Russian assets for Ukraine’s reconstruction efforts. Russia, however, did not present new conditions, maintaining that NATO’s expansion and protection of Russian-speaking Ukrainians remain the core issues.

“The biggest problem is that the Americans have convinced themselves we’ve already lost the war. And from that assumption everything else follows,” said a Ukrainian government official, highlighting frustration with perceived American assumptions about the conflict’s trajectory.

Former President Donald Trump has reportedly initiated diplomatic dialogue aimed at resolving the conflict, while expressing frustration with both Zelensky and Putin for failing to reach a truce. Trump indicated that Putin has vowed to retaliate for Ukraine’s drone strikes, suggesting the potential for further escalation despite ongoing diplomatic efforts. Meanwhile, arrangements for another prisoner exchange are underway, following a previous swap of approximately 1,000 individuals, offering a rare positive development amid the intensifying conflict.