Ukraine has carried out a daring “Spider Web” attack on Russian bombers, striking air bases deep inside Russia with over 100 drones. The operation, which took almost two years to prepare, targeted nuclear-capable long-range bombers and damaged planes in multiple regions.
The scale of the operation became clear within minutes, with explosions reported across several time zones in Russia. The attacks were repelled in some locations, but planes were damaged in Murmansk and Irkutsk, according to the Russian Defence Ministry.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky supervised the operation directly and stated that 117 drones were used, each with its own pilot. The drones were smuggled into Russia using wooden cabins mounted on lorries, which were then driven to locations near airbases before launching.
Drone expert Steve Wright described the attack as “quite extraordinary” due to the ability to remotely command and launch the drones. Kyiv has not disclosed the origin of the drones, but it is believed they may have been produced domestically.
The targets included strategic bombers such as Tu-95, Tu-22, and Tu-160, which carry heavy warheads. Ukraine claims to have hit at least 41 bombers and destroyed “at least” 13, while Russia has reported damage to some planes but no confirmed losses.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cq69qnvj6nlo