Ukraine has launched one of its most significant drone operations yet, striking deep into Russian territory and damaging or destroying dozens of strategic bombers, including the Tu-22M3 and Tu-95, according to Ukrainian officials. The attack, conducted on June and dubbed "Operation Spiderweb," targeted four Russian airbases and reportedly hit 41 military aircraft, a figure that includes some of Russia’s most critical airborne assets.
Satellite imagery confirms extensive damage at Belaya and Olenya airbases, with at least two Tu-22 bombers and several Tu-95s destroyed or severely damaged The Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) released footage showing drones targeting these bombers, as well as rare A-50 airborne early warning planes, which are vital for Russia’s air operations.
These bombers are central to Russia’s ability to launch cruise missile attacks on Ukraine. The Tu-22M3 and Tu-95 are Soviet-era aircraft that are no longer in production, making their loss particularly difficult for Russia to replace Analysts note that the destruction of even a fraction of these planes could significantly impact Russia’s long-range strike capabilities.
While Russia acknowledges that its aircraft were damaged, officials insist that the bombers will be repaired and returned to service However, Western experts and Ukrainian sources argue that the scale of the losses—potentially a third of Russia’s strategic bomber fleet—will be hard to recover from, given production limitations and sanctions on critical components.
This unprecedented attack signals a new phase in the conflict, with Ukraine demonstrating its ability to strike far behind Russian lines using FPV drones and other unmanned systems. The full extent of the damage is still being assessed, but the operation marks a major blow to Russian air power at a critical stage in the war.
