03 June 2025

Ukraine's surprise Operation Spider Web—aimed at attacking multiple airbases across Russia using drones—may have dealt the Russian invading force a blow from which it can't easily recover.

Although actual Russian aircraft losses in the drone strikes cannot be verified at press time—Ukraine initially claimed 41 planes destroyed, while Moscow says the number was inflated by the attackers—any substantial destruction of Russia's strategic air fleet is worrying, as many of its bombers are no longer manufactured.

"Russia lost a significant part of its heavy bomber fleet in the attack with no immediate ability to replace it,” said Douglas Barrie of the International Institute of Strategic Studies.

Ukraine is said to have launched 117 drones against four Russian airfields: Belaya (Irkutsk), Olenya (Murmansk), Dyagilevo (Ryazan), and Ivanovo Severny (Ivanovo).

The targets were apparently bombers and warning/control aircraft the Russian military has been using to launch missile attacks against Ukrainian cities, such as the Tu-22M3 (manufactured 1983-1993), Tu-95MS (1981; modernized 2019-2021), and A-50 Mainstay (manufactured 1978-1992). There were also unconfirmed reports that a Tu-160—a long-range supersonic warplane that is the only Russian bomber still being manufactured—was destroyed.

Many Russian military influencers/bloggers have been losing their minds over the attacks, but not in the way you might expect. Russia's Defense Ministry has been pummeled for not learning from previous Ukrainian drone attacks and using that data to better secure and protect its air fleet. For example, satellite images of various Russian air bases have revealed Tu-95s have been "covered" in old tires. Hardly an effective defense...

See the Carnage