Moscow
The Russian Ministry of Defense confirmed that 5 military airbase across the country was targeted in drone attacks carried out by Ukraine, causing damage to many aircraft. However, the exact figure of how many aircrafts have been damaged have not been stated.
In its statement, the Russian Ministry of Defense accused Ukraine that it launched a terrorist attack on the airports located in Murmansk, Irkutsk, Ivanovo, Rayajan and Amur areas with a FPV (First Person View) drone. The ministry said that all terrorist attacks on military airbase in Ivanovo, Ryajan and Amur regions were thwarted.
For the first time, it has also been officially confirmed that some drone attacks were carried out at very close to the airbase. According to Russian officials, the Murmansk region’s Olenogorsk Airbase and Irqutsk (Siberia) Sredni Airbase were targeted by launching drones from nearby areas with the help of trailer trucks.
Ukraine attacked Russia’s military airports on 1 June 2025 from Operation Spiderweb. Cheap FPV drones were used in this attack, which destroyed Russia’s expensive aircraft. Let us understand this operation with data and cost.
Details of Operation Spiderweb
Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) carried out this operation after an 18 -month plan. Its main points are as follows…
Drone and weapons: SBU agents brought 150 small FPV drones and 300 ammunition to the border of Russia.
Drone in attack: 116 drones flew. Four military airports in Russia attacked.
strategy: Drones were controlled through the Russian telecom network. Among them was auto-humming technology, which recognized the target from artificial intelligence (AI).
Time and method of attack: The drones were launched with wooden structures on trucks to attack from short distances during the day. It was a surprising incident for Russia’s air defense (S-400, electronic war system, armed patrol).
Biggest attack: Several aircraft were gutted by the drone attack on fuel tanks of TU-95 aircraft at Olenya Airport.
Disadvantage
Loss of Russia: Ukraine destroyed or damaged 41 aircraft (TU-95, TU-22M3, A-50) at four airports. The estimated price of these aircraft was $ 2 billion to $ 7 billion (about 17,000 crore to 59,000 crore rupees).
Loss of Ukraine: No casualties. All SBU agents returned to Ukraine safe.
Speciality: This operation was the first of its kind in the world, in which cheap drones caused such a big loss.
Drone cost
Price per drone: The cost of a FPV drone was 430 to 600 dollars (about 36,000 to 50,000 rupees).
Total cost: The cost of 116 drones was 49,880 to 69,600 dollars (about 42 lakh to 58 lakh rupees).
Cost vs. loss: Drones worth Rs 58 lakh destroyed aircraft worth Rs 59,000 crore, which shows the success of Ukraine’s strategy.
Technical and strategic feature
AI using: Ukrainian military intelligence scans Russian bombers aircraft. AI was trained so that drones could automatically recognize and attack the target.
Mobile launch point: Drone was launched from mobile trucks near Russia’s strategic airports, which made it easier to dodge Russia’s air protection.
Low height: FPV drones fly at low height, so that systems like radar and S-400 could not catch them.
Due to the success of the operation
Wonder: Attack during the day was unexpected for Russia.
Cheap Technology: Low -cost drones targeted expensive aircraft.
AI and Strategy: AI-based auto-humming and mobile launch points made the operation effective.
Russia’s weakness: Russia’s air defense failed to stop small, low -height drones.
In Operation Spiderweb, Ukraine destroyed 41 aircraft worth Rs 59,000 crore from 116 FPV drones worth only Rs 58 lakh. With AI and clever strategy, Ukraine proved that even cheap technology can cause heavy damage to powerful enemies. This operation is a new chapter in war strategy.
Ukraine claims- 41 Russian aircraft destroyed
Ukraine claimed that he destroyed 41 fighter aircraft from Russia. Ukraine targeted Oleanya Air Base in Marmaansk, Russia, Belaya Air Base in Irqutsk, Ivanovo Air Base in Ivanovo and Diogilevo Air Base, according to the Ukrainian website Kiev Independent report.
Russia’s rolling airbase is more than 4 thousand km away from the Ukrainian border. It is located in the Siberia region of Russia. According to the report, Ukraine’s Security Agency (SBU) carried out the attack, using FPV (first-Persen-View) drones. It targeted strategic bombers like A-50, TU-95 and TU-22.
An SBU official said that he has carried out the attack in his own defense, as these Russian aircraft often drop bombs on Ukrainian cities. Russia has confirmed this attack. According to initial estimates, the cost of damage can be US $ 2 billion (more than 17 thousand crore rupees).
The attack took place at a time when peace talks are to be held in Istanbul on Monday and clashes across the border have intensified.
Russia’s five airbase distance from Ukraine
Belaya Airbase, Irqutsk Oblast (4300 km away)
Olenya Airbase, Murmansk Oblast (3674 km away)
Diagilevo Airbase, Riyajan Oblast (2161 km away)
Ivanovo Airbase, Ivanovo Oblast (2000 km away)
Amur Airbase, Amur Oblast (6000 km)
Olenya airbase caught fire
Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) stated that his drones went far away inside Russia and damaged expensive spy aircraft such as TU-95, TU-22 and expensive spy aircraft such as A-50. The A-50 aircraft are very rare, and Russia has only 10 such aircraft. The price of an aircraft is said to be around $ 350 million (Rs 3000 crore).
In this attack, an airbase named ‘Belaya’ was specially targeted, which is in the Ironkutsk region of Russia. At the same time, there have been reports of fire in ‘Oleanya’ airbase, but it has not been officially confirmed yet.
Aircrafts like TU-95 and TU-160 are old, but they can fly long distances and carry many missiles. They are counted among the most powerful weapons of Russia’s Air Force. Dropping them is considered a big achievement for Ukraine.
Ukraine said- if Russia does not stop, they will attack more
The Ukrainian agency said that they carried out the attack so that Russia’s bombing could stop, because almost every night Russian aircraft attack Ukrainian cities. He hopes that Russia will suffer a lot of damage due to this attack. Ukraine has also said that its drone mission will continue even further.
Olenya Airbase is in the Marmaansk region of Russia. The governor there said that the enemy’s drone attacked, but he also did not share much information. A video is viral on social media in which FPV drones can be seen flying from a truck.
Ukraine was preparing for one and a half years
According to media reports, SBU had been preparing for this attack for about 18 months. He named this operation ‘Spider Web’. The mission was monitored by Ukraine President Volodimir Jailonsky himself. At the same time, this SBU was under the supervision of Chief Vasil Malieuk.
According to Ukrainian media reports, the drone was first sent secretly to Russia and then hidden under the wooden cabins placed in the lories. When the attack was to be held, drones were launched from these trucks.
Exios, citing the Ukrainian officer, said that before the attack, Ukraine had informed the Trump administration.
According to reports, many special things were involved in this operation…
Ukrainian agents secretly transported FPV drones and wooden mobile cabins inside Russia.
These drone trucks were hidden under the roofs, which could be controlled from far away.
When the attack started, the roofs of the trucks opened and the Kamikaje drones (drones that blow themselves) were sent directly to the Russian bombing aircraft.
