Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) has released new footage of its recent “Spiderweb” operation, which used drones to strike Russian bases housing strategic and long-range aircraft. The videos were recorded by the drones themselves.
According to the SBU, the footage shows drone strikes on the Belaya air base in the Irkutsk region, Olenya in the Murmansk region, Ivanovo Severny in the Ivanovo region, and Dyagilevo in the Ryazan region. Until now, no video footage had been published of the attacks on the airfields in Ivanovo and Ryazan.
Ivanovo Severny is home to Russia’s A-50 early warning radar aircraft. However, judging by the footage, those targeted were not equipped with engines. The SBU video shows drones landing on two of the aircraft, though the aftermath of these strikes is not shown.
Footage from Dyagilevo shows drones landing on Tu-22M3 bombers, but again, the impact is not visible.
The SBU claims that the drones successfully hit A-50 aircraft among other targets. However, the footage only shows the drones reaching these planes — it is not possible to tell if there was an explosion or damage from the published footage.
The SBU conducted the operation on June 1, targeting multiple Russian military airfields. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the mission involved 117 FPV drones and the same number of operators, and that the operation's “office” was located inside Russia near an FSB building. He claimed the operation struck 41 aircraft, half of which were damaged beyond repair.
Russia’s Defense Ministry confirmed that “several aircraft” caught fire in the Murmansk and Irkutsk regions as a result of drone strikes.
Satellite imagery indicates that at least four Tu-95 bombers and one An-12 transport plane were destroyed at the Olenya base in Murmansk. Images from the Belaya airfield suggest that at least six strategic bombers were destroyed there.
