Operation Spider's Web: "brilliant terrorist attack" causes 6 billion euros' damage to Russian military bases

The Russian Ministry of Defence has reported that the Kiev regime carried out several 'terrorist attacks' on Sunday 1 June using FPV drones against military airfields in five Russian regions. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has already described this coordinated drone attack by the Ukrainian army on airforce bases deep inside Russia as "brilliant".

Never before had Kiev conducted an operation over such a long distance, the Ukrainian president emphasised on Sunday. At least 117 drones are said to have been used in this 'Operation Spider's Web', which targeted four airforce bases—some very deep inside Russia. Ukraine is said to have smuggled the drones covertly across the Russian border and hidden them in parked trailers. According to the Ukrainian security services, 40 bombers and other military aircraft were damaged and the total damage amounts to 7 billion US dollars, equivalent to just over 6 billion euros. According to the SBU, 34 percent of the bombers at the affected Russian airforce bases were hit. These claims could not be independently verified. According to Moscow, there were no casualties.

The United States, for its part, has stated that it did not provide any intelligence in preparation for the drone attack on Russia. This was reported by Jennifer Jacobs, White House correspondent for CBS, on 1 June based on her own sources. "The US did not share intelligence with @ZelenskyyUa and his team for Operation Spider’s Web, sources within the administration tell me. Ukraine collected its information itself", she wrote on X.

According to the Kremlin, suspects have already been arrested. However, Ukraine reports that all those involved have once again left Russia. According to the Kremlin, the drones were launched "from an area in the immediate vicinity of the bases".

(SR - Source: X/Reuters/Kyiv News/CBS - Illustration: ©Unsplash)