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“The Security Service of Ukraine strikes, and will continue to strike, the enemy even where it thinks it’s untouchable. We’re working on more surprises for them. Just as painful as Operation Spiderweb,” SBU Chief Lieutenant General Vasyl Maliuk.
On June 1, 2025, the Security Service of Ukraine, led by Vasyl Maliuk and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, carried out Operation Spiderweb, a mission that will go down in history and reshape the principles of modern warfare.
This bold and historic special operation, codenamed Spiderweb, was Ukraine’s response to years of relentless Russian missile attacks on Ukrainian cities, hospitals, and energy infrastructure. Its scale and daring execution are already being compared to some of the most legendary intelligence missions in the world, even drawing parallels to Israel’s Mossad.
And on August 24, 2025, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy honored Spiderweb with the “National Legend of Ukraine” award, saying it showed just how much Ukraine’s special services — and the country as a whole — are capable of achieving.
What Is Operation Spiderweb?
To put it simply, here’s how Operation Spiderweb worked:
First, Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) secretly smuggled FPV drones into Russia. Later, they also transported small mobile wooden houses. A total of 117 drones were involved in the operation.
Once inside Russian territory, the drones were hidden under the roofs of these houses, which were loaded onto trucks.
At the right moment, the roofs were remotely opened — and the drones took off, flying directly to their assigned targets: Russian military bombers stationed at four key airbases — Belaya, Dyagilevo, Olenya, and Ivanovo.
The operation used relatively low-cost FPV drones — priced at just $300–600 each — which delivered an astonishing cost-to-impact ratio, successfully targeting aircraft worth millions.
Targets and Damage
Ukraine drones attack Russian bombers
Thanks to bold planning and flawless execution, Ukraine’s drones hit over 40 strategic Russian aircraft, including some of the most valuable assets in Russia’s aerial arsenal, like the A-50 long-range radar detection and command aircraft, often called the “eyes and brain” of Russian air operations, as well as Tu-95 strategic bombers and Tu-22M3 long-range supersonic bombers.
These airbases are critical to Russia’s bombing campaign against Ukraine, with aircraft routinely launching deadly cruise missiles from them. One of the most significant blows came at the Olenya airbase, where several Tu-95MS bombers and Kh-101 cruise missiles were destroyed, missiles that were reportedly being prepared for another mass strike on Ukrainian cities.
Footage of the attack quickly spread across Telegram and global media outlets, offering undeniable proof of the operation’s success and the massive damage inflicted on the Russian military.
Belaya Airbase: A Strike at the Heart of Russia’s Strategic Aviation
The strike on Belaya Airbase marked Ukraine’s first-ever attack on a military facility in Siberia since the full-scale invasion began. Located more than 4,300 kilometers from Ukraine’s border, Belaya was considered by Moscow to be one of the safest locations for housing strategic bombers.
But distance no longer meant safety.
Geospatial analyst Chris Biggers published satellite imagery taken by Umbra Space, revealing the aftermath of the strike on Belaya, in Russia’s Irkutsk region. The visuals confirmed serious damage:
- At least 3 Tu-95MS strategic bombers – destroyed
- At least 1 Tu-22M3 strategic bomber – destroyed
- At least 1 Tu-95MS – damaged
- At least 3 Tu-22M3s – damaged
📸 (Link to source: Chris Biggers on X)
The governor of Irkutsk region, Igor Kobzev, publicly confirmed the drone strike on a military unit in the village of Sredny of Usolsky District, the location of Belaya Airbase. He added that the drones had been launched directly from a truck. The distance from the village of Sredny to Belaya Airbase is approximately 5 kilometers.
According to The Insider, Ukraine had also planned to strike another long-range airbase – Ukrainka, located in Russia’s Amur region. But it never reached its target; it exploded when someone entered the truck. Video footage shows what appears to be a completely burned-out trailer. The governor of Amur region, Vasily Orlov, later confirmed the incident: a truck caught fire on the Chita – Khabarovsk highway near Seryshevo, and the driver was injured.
Taking Out the A-50 — Russia’s “Eyes” and “Brain” in the Sky
One of the most significant achievements of Ukraine’s Operation Spiderweb was the successful hit on a Russian A-50 long-range radar surveillance and command aircraft. This type of aircraft plays a crucial role in Russia’s air operations, often referred to as the “eyes” and “brain” in the sky for its ability to coordinate air missions and detect enemy aircraft from afar.
According to aviation expert Valeriy Romanenko, Russia currently operates only seven A-50s, which he calls “flying radars.” These planes are based at Ivanovo Airfield, the same location where remnants of Russia’s massive An-124 “Ruslan” transport fleet were relocated. Every one of these aircraft is strategically important to Russian military operations.
While their role in direct frontline missions has somewhat decreased, A-50s still play a key part in supporting Russia’s air defense systems. In earlier phases of the war, they routinely patrolled Ukrainian airspace from a distance, helping Russian fighter jets locate and engage Ukrainian aircraft, often leading to deadly outcomes.
What Makes Operation Spiderweb Special
A Unique Strategy the Enemy Didn’t See Coming
Footage shared by Russian Telegram channels revealed just how confused Russian forces were. They couldn’t figure out where the drones were coming from. This unconventional approach caught them completely off guard.
Russia’s air defense systems are designed to detect aircraft, cruise missiles, or drones approaching from known directions. But in this case, Ukraine’s drones were already inside Russia, hidden in mobile units, a tactic the Russians hadn’t prepared for.
Even more impressive, it’s believed that Ukrainian forces used Russian telecommunications networks to operate the drones. This likely made them far less vulnerable to Russia’s electronic warfare systems, which are usually calibrated to jam standard Ukrainian communication channels.
Operation Spiderweb: $7 Billion in Damage
According to the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), the operation caused over $7 billion in losses to Russia’s air force. The SBU also confirmed that all personnel involved in planning and carrying out the mission were safely evacuated from Russian territory and are now back in Ukraine. Any arrests or “detentions” announced by Russian authorities, the SBU noted, should be viewed as propaganda theater, staged for internal audiences to save face after a devastating failure.
Inside Details from SBU Chief Vasyl Maliuk
In late June 2025, the Head of Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU), Vasyl Maliuk, met with journalists and shared more behind-the-scenes details about Operation Spiderweb — a mission he described as extraordinarily complex and multi-layered.
“The first challenge was logistics,” Maliuk said. “The most critical part was getting the equipment deep into enemy territory. Then came the drones themselves. On the outside, they looked like standard FPV drones — but in reality, they were unique strike weapons with multiple types of communication systems.”
He explained that each drone carried a custom-designed warhead: two parts weighing 800 grams each, for a total of 1.6 kg. This was a special cumulative high-explosive charge, engineered to pierce an aircraft’s fuselage and explode inside, maximizing the destructive impact.
“The priority was to hit fuel tanks and avionics,” he continued. “We aimed for areas where missiles were stored and targeted critical onboard systems that Russia doesn’t have spares for. It was a highly precise, purpose-built munition.”
Maliuk also revealed that the drones used specialized communications components that fall under Western sanctions, smuggled into Russia despite heavy restrictions. He added that those involved in building the drones didn’t know they were part of ‘Spiderweb’, and the people who constructed the wooden houses didn’t know they were building drone launch systems. Even the transporters had no idea what they were carrying.
“I handpicked the best drone operators from CSO ‘A’,” he said. “They entered the combat control center at 5 a.m., handed over their phones, and got to work. Each one was assigned a specific aircraft target. They were given custom terrain models showing the exact layout, including the position of the wooden houses and the planned drone flight routes. I had my models as well.”
He also described how the drone houses were built to handle extreme conditions.
“We prepared for the possibility of winter operations,” he said. “That’s why each house had solar panels and EcoFlow battery systems to keep the drones constantly charged, even in temperatures as low as -50°C. The drone had to be fully powered and ready for launch.”
“Smuggling this equipment into Russia wasn’t easy. Because EcoFlow batteries and solar panels are restricted items, bribes had to be paid to Russian customs officials to get them through the border“.
Maliuk described the operation as the culmination of logistics, drone tech, human intelligence, remote control systems, and even artificial intelligence, all working in perfect sync:
“Spiderweb brought it all together. And this kind of success only happens when you do it with genuine belief, with a clear heart, with positivity, and when everyone involved is fully committed to the mission.”
Zelensky: “An Absolutely Brilliant Operation”
President Volodymyr Zelensky called the results of Operation Spiderweb “absolutely brilliant”, describing it as “a fully independent Ukrainian success” and “our longest-range operation to date.”
In a striking detail, he revealed that the “headquarters” of this top-secret mission was located near one of the Russian FSB’s own offices, a bold move that highlights not only the unprecedented bravery and deep infiltration abilities of Ukraine’s intelligence services, but also the level of stealth and precision that allowed them to operate undetected right under the enemy’s nose.
Global Reactions: Admiration, Caution, and Shock
Western diplomats, military experts, and analysts around the world have expressed admiration for the scale and success of Operation Spiderweb. Many highlighted its unprecedented depth of penetration and the sheer number of targets destroyed as something never before seen in modern warfare.
Keith Kellogg, special representative of the U.S. President, noted that the June 1 drone assault on Russia’s strategic airbases could potentially raise the risk of further escalation in the conflict.
American Senator Richard Blumenthal drew a powerful comparison between Operation Spiderweb and the killing of Osama bin Laden, saying that this strike shatters the false narrative that Ukraine is losing the war.
The Israeli intelligence agency Mossad, regarded as one of the most effective in the world, also praised the mission, calling it a “wake-up call for the era of drone warfare.”
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte emphasized that Russia had been using its strategic bombers to target civilian areas in Ukraine, but he declined to speculate on how Operation Spiderweb might affect the future course of the war, suggesting such predictions aren’t always helpful.
Former British Army officer Colonel Tim Collins, writing in The Telegraph, called the operation’s outcome “staggering.” He highlighted the asymmetric nature of the strike, with Ukraine spending less than $1 million to inflict $7 billion in damage, and the psychological impact on both Russian troops and civilians.
Elon Musk, founder of SpaceX and Tesla, weighed in on the attack, writing: “Drones are the future of war. Manned aircraft are not.”
Russian Reactions: Anger, Chaos, and Comparisons to Pearl Harbor
Prominent Russian Z-bloggers were unanimous: Ukraine has crossed yet another red line, and what happened is nothing less than a disaster for the Russian military leadership.
“This is Russia’s Pearl Harbor,” wrote propagandist Roman Alyokhin, adding that he hoped the response would be as fierce as America’s retaliation after the 1941 attack — or even harsher.
Journalist Timur Olevsky countered with a different comparison: “This isn’t Pearl Harbor — this is Operation Frantic,” referring to WWII U.S. air raids launched from Soviet territory.
One of the more extreme Z-channels, “Voivode Speaks”, called for the execution of 500 Ukrainian prisoners of war — on camera, as a warning to others. He conveniently forgot that Russia also has many of its soldiers in Ukrainian captivity.
Another Z-blogger admitted open despair: “I can’t even imagine how we’re supposed to respond to this. We don’t have dozens of countries sending us jets. And what does the Chief of the General Staff think? The same as he did about the Kursk region in the first days of the invasion?”
The channel “Notes of Midshipman Ptichkin” declared that a Ukrainian drone strike on a strategic airbase 2,000 km from the border is so serious it “warrants the declaration of an actual war.”
Z-blogger Boris Rozhin chimed in: “This is a complete failure of the structures responsible for protecting strategic aviation bases.”
Meanwhile, military reporter Aleksei Zhivov criticized Murmansk governor Andrei Chibis for publicly claiming during the attack that air defense systems were “working. “Working against what? Tactical FPV drones? Why even say something like that?” he snapped.
Andrei Filatov, a Russia Today correspondent, blamed the disaster on deep-rooted corruption: “The army’s brain is rotting. The mid-level commanders are consumed by kickbacks and turf wars. We have counter-drone tech, but it’s not purchased until it’s stolen or resold. Even the simplest countermeasures are beyond the grasp of our aging generals. The anti-crisis response will be brain-dead.”
My Thoughts as a Ukrainian
To me, Operation Spiderweb was brilliant, unexpected, and shocking — all at the same time. Even though I never doubted the intelligence, creativity, and resilience of Ukrainian people, I still felt a deep sense of awe at the minds behind this operation. Not just pride but admiration.
What the world sometimes forgets, or perhaps doesn’t know, is that Ukrainians are exceptional in tech, math, and engineering. It’s not a coincidence. It’s a legacy of our education system that has always been extremely demanding, especially in math and sciences. We didn’t just learn formulas, we trained to solve problems from the ground up.
Today, the world knows Ukrainian developers, cybersecurity experts, and engineers working at the cutting edge of tech. Some helped build Silicon Valley startups, others contributed to major innovations in fields like aerospace, AI, and blockchain. Ukraine has produced airfield engineers, rocket designers, and tech experts for decades; it’s in our DNA.
And now, that brainpower is showing itself on the battlefield.
Ukraine is leading the world in modern drone warfare. This operation proved it. While Russia still fights the old way, throwing waves of soldiers into the “meat grinder,” repeating the same inhumane tactics from World War II, Ukraine is fighting smarter.
We’re investing in AI, drone tech, and innovation not because it’s trendy, but because it saves lives.
We choose technology over blood. We protect our people. That’s a fundamental difference between us and them.
Ukrainians value human life. We fight to survive. We build to protect. We care about each individual, not as a tool of the state, but as someone who matters.
Operation Spiderweb wasn’t just a military strike.
It was a symbol of how different we are.
And why, in the end, we will win.
About the author:
Hello and welcome! My name is Victoria, and I’m a private tour guide in Kyiv. Since 2016, I have been offering private tours on various topics for visitors to the capital of Ukraine. I love sharing stories. When not guiding, I write about Ukraine on my blog and my travel experiences and insights in Sweden and the Baltics.