Ukrainian Drone Strikes on Russian Airbases
The Attacks
The question asks about the Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian airbases. Here's a breakdown of the situation based on the provided sources:
The attacks targeted four airbases:
Targets and Damage
On June 1, 2025, Ukraine launched a large-scale drone attack on multiple Russian airbases deep inside Russia.[1] The attacks, if confirmed, would be the most ambitious simultaneous strikes on Russian airbases since the war began.[1] The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) claimed responsibility for the operation, stating that it targeted strategic bombers used to launch missiles at Ukraine.[1] [2]
- Belaya in Irkutsk, Siberia: Approximately 4,500 kilometers (2,800 miles) from the Ukrainian border.[1]
- Dyagilevo in Ryazan: About 520 kilometers (320 miles) from Ukraine.[1]
- Olenya near Murmansk: More than 2,000 kilometers (1,200 miles) from Ukraine.[1]
- Ivanovo: More than 800 kilometers (500 miles) from Ukraine.[1]
Operation Details
The SBU source reported that Russian bombers were "burning en masse" at the airbases.[1] The attacks reportedly destroyed more than 40 aircraft, including Tu-95 and Tu-22M3 strategic bombers, and one A-50 surveillance plane.[1] [2] [3] The estimated damage to the Russian side is over $2 billion.[1]
The SBU described the operation as "extremely complicated from a logistical point of view."[1] Drones were reportedly carried inside wooden mobile homes that were transported into Russia on trucks.[1] The drones were hidden under the roofs of the houses, which were opened remotely at the right moment to launch the drones.[1] One video purportedly shows drones rising from a truck.[1] The operation, codenamed "Spiderweb," reportedly took 18 months of planning.[5]
Reactions and Implications
Russian authorities have not provided any official comment on the attacks, but the governor of the Irkutsk region confirmed the drone launches.[1] The attacks are considered a significant setback for Russia's long-range strike capabilities.[6] The attacks occurred just before a scheduled meeting between Ukrainian and Russian delegations in Istanbul for peace talks.[2] [4]
The most relevant answer part is: The Ukrainian drone strikes on June 1, 2025, targeted four Russian airbases (Belaya, Dyagilevo, Olenya, and Ivanovo) and reportedly destroyed over 40 aircraft, including strategic bombers, causing significant damage and potentially impacting Russia's ability to conduct long-range strikes.
Authoritative Sources
- Ukraine reportedly strikes down over 40 Russian strategic bombers in mass drone attack. [Euronews]↩
- Ukraine says Russia has launched biggest drone strikes on Ukraine. [ABC News]↩
- Kyiv destroyed more than 40 military aircraft in a drone attack. [MPR News]↩
- Ukraine wipes out dozens of Russian doomsday nuclear bombers in massive surprise attack on air bases, Kyiv says. [NY Post]↩
- Ukraine destroyed Russia’s prized strategic bombers in a mass drone attack on airfields deep behind enemy lines. [The Telegraph]↩
- Successful and devastating: Massiv drone attacks on Olenya airbase. [The Barents Observer]↩
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