In a stunning escalation of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Ukraine launched a meticulously planned operation dubbed “The Spiderweb,” targeting Russia’s strategic bomber fleet across four airfields, including remote bases in the Arctic and Siberia. This operation, executed on June 1, 2025, marked a significant shift in Ukraine’s military strategy, showcasing audacity, technological innovation, and a redefined approach to asymmetric warfare. But why has Ukraine suddenly intensified its attacks on Russia, and how did Russian defenses fail so spectacularly?
A Game-Changing Strike
On June 1, 2025, Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) orchestrated an unprecedented attack, deploying 117 low-cost, first-person-view (FPV) drones to strike 41 Russian aircraft, including Tu-22M bombers, Tu-95 flying fortresses, and A-50 early warning planes. The operation, which caused an estimated $7 billion in damages, targeted airfields in Murmansk, Irkutsk, and two western Russian regions. Described as Ukraine’s “most far-reaching operation” by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, The Spiderweb not only crippled a third of Russia’s strategic bomber fleet but also exposed vulnerabilities in Moscow’s air defense systems.
The operation’s ingenuity lay in its use of inexpensive FPV drones, hidden in wooden crates and transported by unsuspecting truck drivers to the vicinity of the airfields. These drones, trained using AI algorithms to recognize Soviet-era aircraft, evaded Russia’s sophisticated air defenses, which were designed to counter missiles and larger drones, not toy-like devices costing mere hundreds of dollars. The SBU’s command center, audaciously located near an FSB office in Russia, added a layer of psychological humiliation to the strike.
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Why Now? The Strategic Rationale Behind Ukraine’s Escalation
Ukraine’s intensified attacks come at a critical juncture in the war, driven by a combination of tactical necessity, geopolitical signaling, and psychological warfare. Here are the key factors fueling this escalation:
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Disrupting Russia’s Missile Capabilities: Russia’s strategic bombers have been a cornerstone of its campaign, launching ballistic and cruise missiles that have devastated Ukrainian cities. By targeting these assets, Ukraine aimed to reduce Russia’s capacity to strike civilian and military targets from the air, thereby alleviating pressure on its beleaguered defenses. Lieutenant General Ihor Romanenko emphasized that while the attack won’t alter the ground war along the 1,200km front line, it significantly curtails Russia’s aerial threat.
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Geopolitical Leverage Ahead of Peace Talks: The Spiderweb operation coincided with the eve of renewed peace talks in Istanbul on June 2, 2025. Analysts, including Volodymyr Fesenko of the Penta think tank, argue that the strike was a calculated move to strengthen Ukraine’s negotiating position. By showcasing its ability to strike deep within Russian territory, Kyiv signaled resilience and determination, reinforcing its stance against capitulation. Fesenko noted that both sides view U.S. President Donald Trump as a potential arbiter, making such displays of strength critical to maintaining leverage.
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Exploiting Russian Vulnerabilities: The operation exposed critical gaps in Russia’s air defense systems. Designed to counter conventional threats like missiles, these systems were ill-equipped to detect or neutralize small FPV drones. Radio jamming equipment, meant to disrupt drone navigation, either malfunctioned or was not activated, allowing Ukraine to exploit a blind spot in Russia’s military architecture.
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Psychological Warfare and Global Perception: The Spiderweb operation shattered Russia’s image as an untouchable nuclear superpower. By striking a third of Moscow’s “nuclear triad” — specifically the air-based component — Ukraine not only inflicted material damage but also delivered a symbolic blow to Russian prestige. Romanenko described the operation as a “slap in the face” to the FSB and President Vladimir Putin, highlighting the psychological impact of conducting such an operation near Russia’s intelligence hub.
Ukraine’s New Strategy: Reinventing Asymmetric Warfare
The Spiderweb operation underscores Ukraine’s evolving strategy, which blends low-cost technology, meticulous planning, and unconventional tactics to offset Russia’s numerical and resource advantages. Key elements of this strategy include:
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Innovative Use of FPV Drones: Unlike traditional drones or missiles, FPV drones are cheap, agile, and difficult to detect. The SBU’s use of AI to train these drones to identify Soviet-era aircraft, leveraging images from a Ukrainian aviation museum, demonstrates a level of ingenuity that has redefined modern warfare.
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Deceptive Logistics: By concealing drones in crates and using civilian trucks to transport them, Ukraine bypassed Russia’s border security and air defense networks. This tactic mirrors previous Ukrainian operations, such as the 2023 attacks on Russia’s Black Sea fleet, where naval drones and missiles forced Moscow to relocate its fleet to Novorossiysk.
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Long-Term Planning: The 18-month preparation for The Spiderweb highlights Ukraine’s patience and strategic foresight. By carefully mapping Russian airfields and exploiting gaps in their defenses, Ukraine achieved a disproportionate impact with minimal resources.
This approach builds on Ukraine’s earlier successes, such as its naval campaign in the Black Sea, where a small fleet of outdated warships and innovative drone tactics decimated Russia’s naval presence in Crimea. The Spiderweb operation extends this playbook to the air domain, proving that Ukraine can strike high-value targets deep within Russia.
Russia’s Defensive Failures: A Strategic Miscalculation
Russia’s inability to defend its airfields reveals systemic weaknesses in its military posture. Several factors contributed to this failure:
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Outdated Air Defense Systems: Russia’s air defenses, optimized for missiles and large drones, were unprepared for the swarm of small FPV drones. The lack of effective countermeasures, such as advanced radar or jamming systems tailored to micro-drones, allowed Ukraine to strike with impunity.
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Operational Complacency: The location of the SBU’s command center near an FSB office suggests a failure of Russian intelligence to detect Ukraine’s preparations. This oversight, combined with the absence of active jamming equipment, indicates a lack of vigilance at critical military installations.
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Overreliance on Strategic Assets: Russia’s strategic bombers, a key component of its nuclear triad, were assumed to be secure due to their remote locations and the perceived invulnerability of Russia’s airspace. The Spiderweb operation shattered this illusion, exposing the fragility of Moscow’s military infrastructure.
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Delayed Response: Moscow’s failure to comment on the extent of the damage, coupled with its acknowledgment of “Ukrainian terrorist attacks,” suggests a scramble to assess and mitigate the fallout. This delay may embolden Ukraine to launch further strikes, as evidenced by reports of a second wave of drone attacks on June 2, 2025.
Broader Implications: A Shifting Conflict Dynamic
The Spiderweb operation has far-reaching implications for the Russia-Ukraine war and the global geopolitical landscape:
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Weakening Russia’s Nuclear Posture: While Ukraine did not specifically target Russia’s nuclear capabilities, the destruction of strategic bombers indirectly diminishes Moscow’s nuclear triad. This has raised concerns in the West about the unintended escalation of the conflict, even as it bolsters Ukraine’s image as a formidable adversary.
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Escalation Risks: Analysts warn that Russia may retaliate with intensified missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian civilian targets, potentially using advanced systems like the Oreshnik ballistic missile. Such a response could further escalate the conflict, complicating peace negotiations.
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Strengthening Ukraine’s Resolve: The operation has boosted Ukrainian morale and demonstrated its capacity to innovate under pressure. As Zelenskyy noted, such actions will be remembered in history, reinforcing Ukraine’s determination to resist Russian aggression.
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Global Attention and NATO’s Role: The strike has drawn attention from Western analysts, with some, like Chris Biggers, praising its execution. However, it also raises questions about NATO’s role, as some X posts suggest that Ukraine’s actions could strain relations with Western allies wary of escalation.
A Bold New Chapter in the War
Ukraine’s Spiderweb operation marks a turning point in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, showcasing Kyiv’s ability to strike deep within Russian territory using innovative, low-cost tactics. By exploiting gaps in Russia’s air defenses and targeting its strategic bomber fleet, Ukraine has not only inflicted significant material damage but also shifted the psychological and geopolitical dynamics of the war. As peace talks falter and Russia prepares its response, the world watches a conflict that continues to defy conventional warfare. Ukraine’s message is clear: it will not capitulate, and its ingenuity will continue to challenge Russia’s military might.
