How Ukraine carried out a bold “spider” attack on the Russian bomber

It was an attack on amazing ingenuity – unprecedented, wide, and 18 months in making it.

On June 1, more than 100 Ukrainian drones hit the air bases deep in Russia, targeting a long -term launcher capable of the nucleus.

The size of the operation called “Spider Web” became clear as soon as it was started, as explosions were reported across several time areas throughout Russia – north to Murmansk above the circle in the Arctic, and in the far east of Amur, more than 8,000 km from Ukraine.

The Russian Ministry of Defense confirmed that the attacks took place in five regions of Russia – Murmansk, Irkutsk, Ivanovo, Ryazan and Amur – but stated that they were damaged only in Murmansk and Irkutsk, while the attacks in other sites were attacked.

In the images released shortly after the attack, Vasyl Maliuk, head of the Ukraine security service (SBU), can be seen, and he looks at a Satial map of airports whose bases can be determined in the sites listed by Russia.

Malekuk said that drones were smuggled to Russia inside a wooden cabin attached to the trucks and hidden them under the surfaces that are operated remotely.

The trucks were then transported to sites near the air boats by drivers who were not apparently familiar with their goods; Then, drones were launched and placed on their targets.

Online drone videos appear from the roof of one of the relevant vehicles. One of the truck truck drivers, which was met by the Russian state port, RIA Novosti, said that other drivers tried to hit the drones flying from a truck with rocks.

“They were in the back of the truck and we threw stones to prevent them from flying up, to keep it installed,” he said.

According to reports other than verification of the Russian Telegram Paza channel – which are famous for its links to security services – truck drivers that were carried by drones from all stories that were booked by businessmen to present a wooden cabin in different locations around Russia.

Some of them said that they then received other instructions on the phone about the location of the truck stopping; When they did that, they were stunned by the vision of drones fly from them.

In a joint victor on social media on Sunday night, Ukrainian President Voludmir Zelinski – who supervised the operation directly – said that 117 drones were used in the bold attack that took “one year and six months and nine days” to prepare.

He also said that one of the targeted sites was next to one of the Russian security services offices FSB.

Russia said it had detained people with regard to the attack, although Zelinski mentioned the people who helped facilitate the operation “they were withdrawn from Russian territory … they are now safe.”

In the post-deleted post, local authorities from the UST-Kut city in the Irkutsk area said they were looking for a 37-year-old Ukrainian child with regard to the unmanned aircraft attack on Belaya Military Airport.

The photos shared by SBU show dozens of small black drones hidden in a wooden cabin inside a warehouse, which were set by Russian military bloggers to a site in Chelyabinsk.

Dr. Steve Wright, UK -based drone expert, told BBC that drones were used to hit Russian aircraft, as a simple cottcop, carrying a relatively heavy load.

He added that what made this attack “very unusual” is the ability to smuggle them to Russia and then launch them and drive them remotely – which concluded that it was achieved through a link that was transferred via a satellite or the Internet. Zelensky said that each of the 117 aircraft launched has its own pilot.

Dr. Wright also indicated that drones are likely to be able to fly in the use of GPS, but may also have overcome Russian jamming measures translated by manually drone experience.

KYIV has not shared details about the origin of drones, but since the beginning of the war, Ukraine has become very effective in its manufacture – it is possible to produce those used in this process at home.

“Russia has been subjected to very concrete losses,” Zelinski said at the night video address.

According to Ukraine, 41 strategic bombs and “at least” were destroyed 13. Moscow did not confirm any losses for the aircraft behind the saying that some aircraft had been damaged.

Video clips verified by damaged BBC Aircraft Air Base at the Murmansk and Bilaya Air Base in Irkutsk.

Strategic bombers carrying targeted missiles in the attack are among other things-TU-95, TU-22 and TU-1660. Fixing it will be difficult, and because whatever is still in production, its replacement is impossible.

The satellite images of the radar shared by Capella Space reveals at least four damaged or destroyed by the long -range Russian bombers at the Pele Air Force Base. This also matches Ukrainian drones, an attack on the TU-95 launcher.

“According to the laws and customs of war, we have set very legitimate targets – military aircraft and aircraft that explode our peaceful cities,” said Vasil Maleyuk, President of SBU.

TU-95 Bombers is said to have launched a large-scale missile attack on Ukraine last week. Each bomber can carry eight guides rockets, and each missile in itself carries a 400 kg warhead (882 pounds).

According to the A-50, military spy planes were targeted. They are valuable planes that enhance Russia’s ability to intercept Ukrainian missiles and launch their own strikes.

The number of Russia A -50s is not known – but in February 2024, the chief of military intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, put this number at eight, so any loss or damage may be a serious blow to Moscow.

In a post on social media, SBU said that the spider spider is the cost of Russia 7 billion dollars (5.2 billion pounds).

The Russian government media remained seriously calm in the attacks, with TV programs on Sunday only quoted from the data of the regional authorities. By Monday morning, the story disappeared from the bulletins.

On the Internet and outside the Ukrainians celebrated, with one praising the process as “Titanic”.

“Of course, nothing can be revealed at this moment,” Zelinski wrote on a telegram, but these are the actions of Ukrainian, which will undoubtedly be in history books. “

Participated in additional reports by Kumar Malhotra, Tom Spencer, Richard Erfin Brown, Paul Brown and Bandic Garman