Fresh Take on the Mega Drone Attacks on Russian Air Bases
Satellite pictures demonstrate the aftermath of a Ukrainian drone attack on Russian airfields.
In a startling display of modern warfare, images and videos reveal that Ukraine's Operation "Spider's Web" in June 2025 took a heavy toll on Russian air forces. The operation, featuring a swarm of 117 FPV drones, targeted multiple Russian air bases, causing significant damage.
The video released by Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) on Wednesday provides a glimpse into the chaos. The footage opens at the Olenya airbase, where drones are seen landing on Tu-95 and Tu-22 bombers, an An-12 transport plane, and causing explosions and fires in surrounding planes. According to defense intelligence firm Janes, four Tu-95 bombers and one An-12 were destroyed in this assault.
Analysts at the private intelligence firm MAIAR, however, claim that no significant damage was visible at the base, and that imagery suggested eight A-50s remained untouched. At Russia's Dyagilevo airbase, scorch marks on the ground suggest a possible attack, but there was no visible evidence of damage to aircraft. MAIAR's analysts also noted ground scarring near storage areas for aircraft.
Open-source intelligence analyst Brady Africk reviewed the SBU's video, stating that it points to evidence of damage to at least one Tu-22 bomber at Russia's Dyagilevo airbase. The video from the SBU closes with a series of clips from the Belaya airbase, where multiple smoke plumes and fires are seen as drones bombard the base. The wreckage of three Tu-95 and four Tu-22 bombers was found in satellite images from June 4, 2025, according to an analysis by Janes.
Both types of bombers, Tu-95 and Tu-22, have been used in long-range strikes on Ukraine. The extent of these attacks on Russian air forces remains uncertain, but it's clear that Ukraine's Operation "Spider's Web" dealt a powerful blow to the Russian air fleet.
-our website's Nataliia Popova contributed to this report.
[2] Russian Air Forces Suffering Significant Losses in Response to Ukraine's Operation "Spider's Web"
[3] NATO Supports Ukraine in Aftermath of Drone Attacks on Russian Air Bases
- The analysis of the video released by Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) provides a controversial view on the extent of the damage caused to Russian air bases by Ukraine's Operation "Spider's Web".
- The international news is abuzz with the politics surrounding the drone attacks on Russian air bases, as both sides provide their analysis and interpretation of the events.
- The aerospace industry is closely observing the impact of the recent drone attacks on Russian air forces, with implications for future warfare strategies and tactics.
- The finance sector is conducting a thorough analysis of the economic consequences of the significant losses suffered by the Russian air forces in response to Ukraine's Operation "Spider's Web".
- The general news coverage of the drone attacks on Russian air bases has highlighted the war-and-conflicts dimension of the situation, raising concerns about the broader political implications and potential escalation.
