In what Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called an operation “for the history books,” Ukraine launched one of its most ambitious and impactful military offensives of the war. On Sunday, in a matter of hours, nearly a third of Moscow’s strategic bomber fleet was either destroyed or severely damaged. The surprise assault was executed with relatively inexpensive drones that managed to slip deep into Russian territory. Ukrainian officials celebrated the operation as a resounding success.
This elaborate mission, codenamed “Spiderweb,” was spearheaded by Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) and was over 18 months in the making. It was personally supervised by President Zelenskyy. The operation was launched at a critical moment in the conflict, now in its third year, as diplomatic efforts for a ceasefire have failed to produce results and as Russia continues to bombard Ukraine with an unprecedented volume of missile and drone strikes.
Sunday’s operation highlights the broader wartime strategy that Ukraine has pursued: innovation and resourcefulness in the face of being outgunned and outnumbered. Heavily reliant on support from Western allies, Ukrainian defense planners have frequently turned to asymmetrical tactics to weaken Russian forces. These methods often include stealth and creativity, allowing Ukraine to punch above its weight.
According to Kyiv, four Russian military airfields were targeted in the strike. President Zelenskyy revealed that a total of 117 drones were deployed in the multi-layered attack, which inflicted major damage on 34% of Russia’s air missile carrier fleet.
The mission’s complexity was staggering. Zelenskyy disclosed that it was coordinated from a location next to an office of Russia’s powerful Federal Security Service (FSB), though he did not specify exactly where this took place. Ukrainian operatives covertly smuggled FPV (first-person view) drones into Russian territory. These drones were transported in wooden containers and moved by truck to areas near the targeted airfields.
Once positioned, the drones took flight from the containers to launch their strikes on Russia’s strategic bombers. Videos shared on Russian social media on the day of the attack showed drones rising from inside the wooden crates. By the time the assault ended, Ukraine’s security service estimated that over 40 Russian aircraft were either destroyed or heavily damaged, causing approximately $7 billion in losses.
One of the most significant targets hit was the Belaya air base, located in the Irkutsk region of Siberia, more than 4,000 kilometers—or about 2,500 miles—from Ukraine. The sheer distance underscores the depth of Ukrainian penetration and the operational reach of their drones.
Russia’s Defense Ministry confirmed that strikes had indeed occurred, noting that aircraft were damaged and fires broke out at air bases in both the Irkutsk and Murmansk regions. It also said additional drone attacks were thwarted in other regions, including Amur in the Russian Far East and the western locales of Ivanovo and Ryazan.
However, as is often the case in wartime, there has been no way to independently verify the extent of the damage reported by either side.
The primary targets of this operation were strategic aircraft known for their roles in bombing Ukraine. The SBU stated that the strike destroyed several high-value military assets, including the A-50 radar aircraft, as well as the Tu-95 and Tu-22M long-range bombers. These aircraft have been integral to Russia’s bombing campaign against Ukraine. While the Tu-95 and Tu-22M have previously launched missiles at Ukrainian cities, the A-50 plays a critical role in identifying targets, detecting air defenses, and guiding missiles.
The destruction of these planes marks a significant setback for Russia’s ability to maintain its missile assault operations. Ukraine has long sought to reduce Moscow’s aerial strike capabilities, which pose a major threat to civilians and infrastructure alike.
The timing of the drone assault was particularly notable. It came just as Russia had launched a record 472 drones toward Ukraine, another attempt to overwhelm Ukraine’s limited air defense supplies, cripple its arms manufacturing, and lower public morale. These attacks have not only strained Ukraine’s defensive systems but have also resulted in civilian casualties and destruction of non-military targets.
In contrast, Ukraine’s successful operation dealt a psychological and strategic blow to Russia while also lifting the spirits of Ukrainians. The morale boost is significant at a time when peace talks have shown little progress and when Ukrainians are bracing for more hardship.
The drone strike took place a day before a new round of direct peace negotiations commenced in Istanbul on Monday. It served as both a show of Ukrainian capability and a warning to Moscow.
“The enemy thought it could bomb Ukraine and kill Ukrainians with impunity and without end. But that is not the case,” said Vasyl Maliuk, head of Ukraine’s Security Service, on Monday. “We will respond to Russian terror and destroy the enemy everywhere — at sea, in the air, and on land.”
“And if necessary, we’ll get them from underground too,” he added, emphasizing Ukraine’s commitment to continue striking back regardless of the battlefield.
This latest operation also reinforces a pattern of Ukraine employing the element of surprise to strike high-value targets far behind enemy lines. Despite facing numerous challenges on the frontlines, Kyiv has consistently found ways to disrupt Russian operations in unexpected ways.
Sunday’s offensive may go down as the boldest action yet in this category. But it is by no means the first.
In April 2022, Ukraine shocked the world by sinking the Moskva, the flagship of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, using two of its domestically produced Neptune anti-ship missiles. The destruction of the Moskva was a major symbolic and strategic victory early in the war.
Later that year, in October 2022, Ukraine struck the Kerch Bridge connecting Russia with Crimea, a key logistical and symbolic link for Moscow. The bridge was hit again in July 2023, further demonstrating Ukraine’s ability to attack far beyond the immediate warfront.
Sunday’s drone operation represents the continuation—and escalation—of Ukraine’s campaign to target strategic Russian military assets deep within its territory. It not only showcases Ukraine’s growing capabilities in unmanned warfare but also exposes vulnerabilities in Russia’s homeland defense systems.
With no end to the conflict in sight and peace negotiations still yielding little progress, Sunday’s attack may well become a defining moment in a war where creativity, precision, and resilience have become Ukraine’s most potent weapons.