Ukraine Disables 41 High-End Military Aircraft Deep Inside Russia

In an audacious, meticulously executed operation code-named “Spider’s Web,” Ukraine used 117 small drones smuggled into attack position to disable 34% of Russia’s strategic cruise missile carrier aircraft.

Of the 41 aircraft disabled, 13 were destroyed. The estimated financial value of the damage is $7 billion. Ukraine’s attack struck five separate regions inside Russia, with one target area about 4000 km away from Ukraine.

Drones which cost $600 to $1000 each were concealed between beams under the roofs of small wooden “sheds” which were driven in trucks and parked in the vicinity of each military target by civilians unaware of what they were delivering. This avoided Russian air defense systems. When the attack began, the roofs of the “sheds” were opened remotely and the drones lifted off, each under the guidance of a remote human pilot. After the drones launched, the trucks that had carried them into position exploded.

The operation took a year and a half to plan and carry out. It happened on Russia’s Military Transport Aviation Day.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy congratulated Security Service of Ukraine head Vasyl Maliuk for the “absolutely brilliant result.” He added, “The most interesting thing—and we can already say this publicly—is that the ‘office’ of our operation on Russian territory was located right next to the FSB of Russia in one of their regions.” FSB is much-feared state security service.

Zelenskyy said people involved in the operation were all safely away from Russia.