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Ukraine’s Drones Strike 5 Airbases in Russia, Hitting 41 Aircraft

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Ukraine’s Drones Strike 5 Airbases in Russia, Hitting 41 Aircraft

Three years into one of Europe’s most punishing conflicts since World War II, Ukraine has executed a daring and unprecedented drone strike deep within Russian territory. Codenamed Operation Spiderweb, this high-risk, high-reward mission was a strategic message encoded in fire and precision. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called it “our most long-range operation” to date, and with good reason: 117 drones hit five Russian airbases thousands of kilometers from the front line, damaging or destroying over 40 aircraft, including strategic bombers and an advanced A-50 surveillance plane.

This was not a spontaneous counteroffensive. It was the result of over 18 months of meticulous planning by Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU). Drones were smuggled into Russian territory in advance, hidden under the roofs of wooden cabins mounted on trucks. When the time came, these “Trojan trucks” opened their tops remotely, unleashing their payloads at shockingly close range to some of Russia’s most fortified air assets.

Smuggling, Strategy, and Symbolism
More than a military win, Spiderweb is a symbol of Ukraine’s adaptability and evolving asymmetric warfare strategy. At a time when international attention was fragmented and aid was uncertain, Ukraine needed a headline—not just to strike fear into Moscow but to restore confidence in Kyiv’s capabilities. Hitting strategic aircraft worth an estimated $7 billion sends a blunt signal: Ukraine may lack long-range missiles, but it more than compensates with ingenuity and courage.

The symbolic resonance is powerful. One of the attacks reportedly took place near an FSB (Federal Security Service) office, a deliberate nod to Ukrainian intelligence’s reach inside Russia. And unlike past attacks that originated from Ukrainian soil, these drones took off from inside Russia itself, highlighting Kyiv’s ability to orchestrate sabotage from behind enemy lines.

No Casualties, No Apologies
The targets were strictly military. No civilians were harmed. No infrastructure irrelevant to the war effort was touched. This distinction is critical. In a conflict marked by the indiscriminate destruction of Ukrainian cities, Kyiv’s approach stands in sharp contrast. Even as Russian officials scramble to downplay the damage—admitting only that “several aircraft caught fire”—the world can see that Ukraine is delivering results while still operating within the moral high ground.

Equally noteworthy is the silence from Moscow. The official response has been thin, confirming drone launches and fires but omitting any detail that would suggest real vulnerability. Meanwhile, Kyiv has made clear that the people involved in the operation were successfully extracted—outwitting Russian counterintelligence once again.

Warplanes, War Talks, and What Comes Next
The strike comes just before high-level peace talks in Istanbul, brokered by Turkey and pressured by Washington. Yet, the context surrounding these negotiations is critical. Zelensky says Ukraine had previously offered an unconditional ceasefire—an overture that was ignored by Moscow. Instead, Russia reportedly prepared for a fresh missile offensive involving nearly 500 drones and cruise missiles in a single night.

If diplomacy is to succeed, it will need the force of events like Spiderweb behind it. Zelensky’s strategic timing suggests an understanding of modern warfare that is as political as it is tactical. The operation underscores Ukraine’s growing confidence not just on the battlefield, but in shaping the narrative and stakes of the war.

A New Era of Remote Resistance
Spiderweb is a turning point—not just in Ukraine’s war effort, but in the evolution of 21st-century combat. It is a masterclass in remote warfare, logistics, and psychological strategy. It doesn’t rely on brute force. It relies on stealth, patience, and the bold belief that even in the face of superior firepower, intellect can prevail.

This successful strike was a statement of intent from Kyiv, redefining the rules of engagement in an era where drones, data, and deep infiltration are rewriting the playbook of war.