12 Russian Military Aircraft Downed in Operation, Ukrainian Officials Report

In the early hours of June 1, 2025, while Russia commemorated its Military Transport Aviation Day, Ukraine launched a large-scale drone offensive targeting multiple Russian airbases over the weekend, in an operation that Kyiv officials have called “Operation Spider’s Web.”

The overnight attack, which took place on June 1, struck military installations deep within Russian territory. This attack extended across Russian bases located as far as 1,500 kilometres from the Ukrainian border. According to Western intelligence assessments and Ukrainian sources, the attack involved nearly 117 drones, which destroyed dozens of aircraft in Russia’s aerial strike capacity.

How Did Ukraine Pull It Off?

Ukrainian defence officials described the operation as one of the most complex to date. According to a senior Ukrainian military source speaking on condition of anonymity, the planning began 18 months ago. Rather than relying solely on long-range drone flights from Ukrainian territory, many of the drones were reportedly pre-positioned inside Russia using covert ground routes.

A report by the Wall Street Journal, citing Ukrainian security officials, revealed that some of the drones were concealed inside wooden cabins placed on civilian trucks. These trucks, operated by Ukrainian agents and sympathisers within Russia, carried the drones to within close proximity of airbases. Once in position, the drones were launched remotely from hidden compartments.

The drones used included a mix of FPV (first-person view) units operated manually and pre-programmed, which could navigate via GPS. All were reportedly small, commercial-grade drones modified for military use.

Which Places Were Attacked?

The strikes hit multiple high-value airbases, including the Belaya, Dyagilevo, Olenya, and Ivanovo facilities. These bases are primarily used to host Tu-95 and Tu-22M3. These aircraft have been instrumental in Russia’s long-range missile strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure since the early stages of the war.

Initial satellite imagery indicated that up to 13 aircraft were fully destroyed and many more were damaged. However, Ukrainian military sources placed the number significantly higher, claiming as many as 41 aircraft may have been affected, either directly or indirectly, through fire and debris.

How Much Damage Was Done?

The damage appears to be very serious. Western intelligence says at least 13 aircraft were completely destroyed. Ukrainian sources claim the number is as high as 41 aircraft either destroyed or heavily damaged. Officials estimate the financial damage at over $7 billion, with drones used in the attack costing less than $1,200 each. Yet they targeted aircraft worth up to $100 million apiece.

The drones were reportedly hidden in compartments on top of trailer trucks, which approached the airfields before releasing the drone swarms. Many drones followed preprogrammed flight paths using open-source autopilot technology, and some may have used AI to autonomously identify and strike the most vulnerable parts of the aircraft. 

How did Ukrainians and Russians react?

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised the operation during a televised address, calling it “a brilliant execution by our forces” and “entirely planned and carried out by Ukrainians.” “A result achieved solely by Ukraine,” President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared. “One year, six months, and nine days of planning. Our most long-range operation.”His government has not confirmed operational details but stated that the attack demonstrates Ukraine’s ability to disrupt Russia’s military capacity regardless of geographic distance.

Russian authorities have acknowledged drone incursions but evidently downplayed the damage. State media reported several drone intercepts and arrests of individuals allegedly linked to the operation. Official confirmation from the Russian Ministry of Defence regarding aircraft losses hasn’t been confirmed.