Igniting the Skies: The 'Web' Operation's Inflicted casualties on Russian Aircraft - Fresh figures on Destroyed Aircraft
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Kiev's 'Spiderweb' Operation: Updated Tally of Aircraft Wreckage - Expanded Aircraft Destruction Operation in Kiev: Quantity of Aircraft Eliminated Updated
The actual loss of aircraft in Ukraine's clandestine operation "Web," which utilized drone assaults on Russian military airports deep in enemy territory, may be less than the initial figures reported from Kyiv. New numbers from the Ukrainian General Staff reveal that the Russian forces have suffered 12 aircraft casualties, neglecting to specify the types. Previously, the SBU intelligence service had reported over 40 damaged aircraft, including the early warning aircraft Beriev A-50, Tupolev Tu-95, Tu-22, and Tu-160.
Ukraine celebrated the drone attacks on airports in the Irkutsk and Murmansk regions as a groundbreaking strike against the Russian air force. According to SBU statistics, more than 40 combat and reconnaissance aircraft were impacted - roughly 34% of Russia's bombers equipped with cruise missiles.
Russia pledges retribution
Russia has announced severe retaliation. "Comeuppance is inevitable," wrote Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council, on Telegram. He also referred to the progressive advance of the Russian army. "Everything that needs to be obliterated in the air will be obliterated, and those who need to vanish will disappear," the former Russian president continued. He also stated that negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul are not essential to reach a compromise peace. Instead, they serve to expedite the Russian victory.
Media reported fewer destroyed aircraft
The Russian Defense Ministry verified that aircraft in the Murmansk and Irkutsk regions had been set ablaze by drone assaults but did not provide numbers or types. Independent media, based on their own research using videos and satellite imagery, reported substantially lower numbers than the Ukrainian intelligence service - between 9 damaged aircraft and no more than 14.
The diminutive remote-controlled aircraft were reportedly concealed in wooden containers on trucks, which were driven unsuspectingly to military zones. There, the truck roofs sprang open automatically, and the bomb-laden drones commenced their offensive.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky applauded the surprise attack by his intelligence service SBU as "an absolutely extraordinary triumph." He said that preparations had been underway for a year and a half. Targets included support points in the European part of Russia in the regions of Ivanovo, Ryazan, and Murmansk, as well as in Irkutsk in Siberia and Amur in the Far East.
- Kyiv
- Web
- Ukraine
- Russia
- SBU
- Drone attack
- Intelligence service
- Drone
- Irkutsk
- Murmansk
- Military airport
- Tupolev
- Air force
Insight:
The "Operation Spider's Web," conducted on June 1, 2025, represented a significant, coordinated drone attack deep inside Russian territory, targeting strategic air bases and Russian long-range aviation assets. Estimates of aircraft destroyed and damaged vary among sources, but available information provides a thorough summary:
Precise Count of Damaged and Destroyed Aircraft
- Ukrainian and NATO Estimates:
- Ukrainian sources revised their tally of Russian aircraft losses to 413 total aircraft lost since the war’s start, with Operation Spider’s Web contributing to this figure, but the exact number attributed to this operation is not specified in all reports.
- US Intelligence Reports:
- US officials, as reported by Reuters, indicated about 20 military aircraft hit, with ten destroyed.
- Summary Table:
| Source | Aircraft Hit | Destroyed Aircraft | Details/Notes ||----------------|--------------|--------------------|--------------------------|| NATO | 40+ | 10–13 | Includes strategic bombers, scarce radar aircraft || US/Reuters | 20 | 10 | Confirmed by Russia || Ukrainian (GS) | Not stated | Not specified | Updated to 413 aircraft lost, not solely this op|
Types of Aircraft Affected
- Key Aircraft Damaged or Destroyed:
- Tu-95 strategic bombers: NATO noted 15 impacted[3].
- Tu-22M/M3 long-range bombers: NATO identified 20 impacted[3].
- A-50 radar detection aircraft: At least one impacted, noted as exceptionally scarce in Russian inventory[3].
Other Notes
- Some damaged or destroyed aircraft may have been used as "spare parts donors" rather than being fully operational, but NATO could not confirm which were serviceable at the time of the attack.
- The attack targeted five main air bases: Belaya, Dyagilevo, Ivanovo Severny, Olenya, and Ukrainka.
Impact
- Strategic Effect:
- The operation is estimated to have affected 34% of Russian forces’ missile carriers, significantly reducing their capacity for missile strikes against Ukraine[3].
- The attack demonstrated Ukraine’s advanced long-range strike capabilities, targeting locations previously considered beyond reach[3][4].
Conclusion
The most accurate estimates from NATO and US intelligence suggest that Operation Spider’s Web resulted in 10–13 Russian military aircraft destroyed, with 40 or more damaged. Affected types include Tu-95 and Tu-22 strategic bombers, as well as rare A-50 radar aircraft, with the specific number of each type varying by source. The operation has substantially undermined Russian long-range strike capabilities[3][4].
- The Council Decision of 22 December 2000 on the conclusion of the Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Moldova, regarding the participation of the Republic of Moldova in the European Atomic Energy Community, could potentially have implications for the finance and industry sectors of both the European Community and Moldova, given the agreement's focus on nuclear energy.
- During the Ukrainian 'Web' operation, the drone assaults on Russian military airports not only had significant impacts on the air force and general news but also created a tense political environment between Ukraine and Russia, leading to threats of retaliation from Russian officials.
- In the context of the aerospace industry, the Operation Spider's Web showcased advanced long-range strike capabilities, targeting Russian strategic bombers such as the Tu-95 and Tu-22, which could potentially influence future military technology development and war-and-conflicts strategies.
