Ukraine’s massive drone attack on Russia on Sunday, June 1, caused $7 billion in military damage, part of Operation “Spiderweb” that had been planned for eighteen months.
Why It Matters
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, when it turned into a full-scale war, attacks on each other with military weapons began.
Ukraine’s security service said that a Ukrainian special operation called “Spiderweb” used 117 drones to attack five major air bases deep inside Russia on June 1, destroying or damaging 41 military aircraft. The operation, which had been planned for 18 months, was carried out on Sunday, according to the Kyiv Post.
The five Russian air bases attacked by Ukrainian drones included Belaya Air Base in Irkutsk Oblast, Siberia; Dyagilevo Air Base in the Ryazan region; Ivanovo Severny Air Base; Olenya Air Base; and Ukrainka Air Base, and several Tu-95 bombers were damaged in the attacks.
According to the Kyiv Post, Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) said the attack caused an estimated $7 billion in damage to Russia’s military assets, adding that the figure has not yet been independently verified.
what to know
Reuters reported that the SBU was able to attack strategic bombers stationed at a Russian air base on Sunday by hiding explosive drones inside the roof of a wooden shed, citing a Ukrainian security official who spoke on condition of anonymity and photos posted online.
Global Times reported that the Russian Defense Ministry said in a Telegram post on Sunday that first-person view (FPV) drones were used by Ukraine to attack military airbases in five regions and that the drones started fires that damaged several aircraft and caused no casualties among personnel or civilians.
News agency TASS reported on Monday that Russian forces have struck more than 150 locations in Ukraine over the past day as part of a special military operation. The strikes targeted UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) assembly workshops and facilities of Ukrainian armed formations and foreign mercenaries.
Experts believe that Ukraine’s drone attacks have left a trail of widespread damage in Russia. It is believed that Russia may launch a larger attack on Ukraine in retaliation for this.
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