This is just PR theater while Ukraine just loses more territory to Russian forces within Ukraine. You have to think it’s to keep the war going for the many schemes of enrichment to continue for both sides. And as I’ve pointed out, the EU is salivating over the trillions in savings of citizens they want to harvest to build their military industrial complex in order to fight Russia.
In a long planned so-calle Spiderweb operation, Kyiv carried out a series of drone attacks targeting Russian strategic airbases across the country. The operation targeted Olenya, Dyagilevo, Severny, Belaya, and Ukrainka, key bases housing Russia’s long-range aviation fleet. Ukrainian intelligence services claimed the operation was more than 18 months in preparation, releasing maps and images of the specialized drone containers in civilian trucks used in the attack. LINK
Initial Ukrainian reports suggested massive success, claiming damage to over 40 aircraft including Tu-95 and Tu-22M3 strategic bombers. However, closer examination reveals a more modest outcome.
The released satellite imagery confirms damage at Belaya airbase in Irkuts. According to the imagery, three Tu-95MS bombers and four Tu-22M3 aircraft were probably destroyed and another Tu-22M3 was damaged.
The satellite imagery of the Olenya base in Murmansk region is yet to be published but the previously shared footage from the UAVS also confirmed strikes, with four Tu-95Ms and an AN-12 affected. Thus, Russia’s estimated losses after yesterday’s attack are 12 bombers and one cargo aircraft.
Notably, three other targeted bases appear to have escaped significant damage, with drone attack on Ukrainka failing completely when the transport vehicle caught fire en route.
While Ukrainian officials celebrated the operation as a major achievement, its strategic impact remains questionable.
If the damaged Tu-95MS cannot be restored, this is a serious and extremely expensive, but nevertheless not a critical loss. The Russian long-range aviation has about 50 combat-ready Tu-95MS in service. Russia maintains a substantial fleet of operational bombers, and the loss of a few aircraft is unlikely to significantly alter the military balance. More importantly, the attacks risk provoking a severe Russian response at a time when diplomatic negotiations are already strained. Ukraine has attacked Russia’s nuclear triad, such a provocation will likely force Moscow to reassess its defensive posture.
The incident has again highlighted Western involvement in the war. Obviously, the attack on Russian nuclear portable aircraft was ordered by Kyiv’s patrons and has almost no impact on the hostilities in Ukraine. The operation was planned and coordinated by foreign forces, which provided the Kyiv regime with the necessary data. U.S. officials have denied providing intelligence support for the operation, though the timing coincides with increased NATO satellite surveillance of Russian military facilities.
As both sides prepare for further negotiations, these attacks have introduced new tensions rather than strengthening Ukraine’s bargaining position. The psychological impact of penetrating Russia’s strategic defenses may prove more significant than the actual military damage, but could come at the cost of escalated hostilities in the coming weeks. The Kremlin now faces pressure to respond decisively, while simultaneously addressing embarrassing security failures at its most sensitive military installations.