Ukraine present carried out the largest drone attack on Russian strategical aviation so far, hitting 4 air bases deep in Russia. According to the safety Service of Ukraine (SBU), the operation destroyed 41 combat aircraft, including Tu-95 and Tu-22M strategical bombers and A-50 early informing aircraft. The mark of the attack were bases in Bela (Irkuck), Diagilev (Riazan), Ivans and Olenia (Murmansk).
The attack, called the Spider Network, was the consequence of 18-month planning and preparation. According to SBU, FPV drones were smuggled into Russia in crates hidden in trucks. Upon reaching the site, the drones were remotely activated and carried out coordinated military targets.
According to Ukrainian sources, more than 40 Russian military aircraft were destroyed, including strategical bombers and early informing aircraft. These losses may seriously weaken Russia's ability to carry out rocket attacks on Ukrainian cities. It is estimated that the value of the damaged equipment exceeds $2 billion.
The attack occurred 1 day after the largest Russian air strike to date against Ukraine, which utilized 472 drones and 7 rockets, and the day before planned peace talks in Istanbul. Russia refused to present an authoritative post on the end of the war, demanding the cessation of supplies of western arms to Ukraine and the cessation of mobilization, which was rejected by president Volodymyr Zelenski.
Russian authorities charged Ukraine with terrorism after the demolition of 2 railway bridges close the border, resulting in fatalities and injuries. Ukraine did not comment on these incidents.
Operation Spidernet shows Ukraine's ability to carry out complex military operations deep in the territory of the opponent. The usage of advanced drone technology and coordinated attacks may mean a fresh phase in the conflict in which Ukraine actively moves on to offensive activities in Russian territory.
If information on the scale of the harm is confirmed, it will be 1 of the most severe blows to Russian aviation since the beginning of the invasion in 2022.
