Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) on Sunday launched a drone operation using first-person-view (FPV) drones secretly brought into Russia and concealed in trucks.
In a Telegram post, the SBU said the attack damaged Russian heavy bombers at four airbases: Belaya in Irkutsk, Diaghilevo in Ryazan, Ivanovo in Ivanovo Oblast, and Olenya in Murmansk.
According to SBU, the strike caused an estimated $7 billion in damage and disabled 34% of Russia’s cruise missile carrier fleet.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces General Staff confirmed on Telegram that more than 40 aircraft were damaged in the strike, including Tu-95 “Bear” nuclear bombers, Tu-22M3 “Backfire” bombers, and A-50 “Mainstay” airborne early warning aircraft.
Video released by the General Staff showed drones striking Russian bombers at Belaya Airbase.
Ukrainian drones struck Russian strategic aviation at the Belaya air base in Irkutsk – 4,800 km from Kyiv. pic.twitter.com/UBAi7znioR
— Michael MacKay (@mhmck) June 1, 2025
Additional videos circulating on social media appear to show FPV drones launching from trucks parked near the airfields. SOFX has not independently verified the footage.
Footage of a Ukrainian FPV strike drone rising from a cargo truck and heading towards Russia’s Belaya Airbase.
The drone launch and airbase hit were over 4000 km (2500 mi) from Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/XU7bCzV5QJ
— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) June 1, 2025
Locals filmed dozens of small FPV-like drones which reportedly struck multiple aircraft and other targets at the base. In short, a truck drove up to a gas station in the town next to the base and launched at least 20 drones.#BudanovApproves#OSINT pic.twitter.com/yrjEBSUT8g
— OSINT Intuit 🇺🇸 🇨🇦 🇬🇧 🇺🇦 🇮🇱 🇬🇪 (@UKikaski) June 1, 2025
According to a source cited by Kyiv Independent, the surprise operation, codenamed “Spiderweb,” took 18 months to plan.
“The SBU first transported FPV drones to Russia, and later, on the territory of the Russian Federation, the drones were hidden under the roofs of mobile wooden cabins, already placed on trucks,” the source told the news outlet. “At the right moment, the roofs of the cabins were opened remotely, and the drones flew to hit Russian bombers.”
The source also noted that those behind the operation have “been in Ukraine for a long time.”
On Sunday, Russia’s Defense Ministry acknowledged what it called a “terrorist attack” carried out by the “Kyiv regime.”
The ministry said attacks at the Ivanovo, Ryazan, and Amur airfields were “repelled,” while several aircraft caught fire in Murmansk and Irkutsk following drone launches near the airfields. It reported no military or civilian casualties and said all fires have been extinguished.
The strike came one day before possible ceasefire talks in Istanbul, involving leaders from Ukraine and Russia.
