How Ukraine’s Brazen “Spider’s Web” Drone Strike Hit Russian Airbases

Ukraine’s security service (SBU) executed Sunday operation “Spider’s Web,” a long-range drone strike targeting Russian airbases in Murmansk and Irkutsk, thousands of kilometers from the front line.

Over 117 drones, smuggled into Russia inside wooden truck structures, were released near targets, reportedly damaging 41 strategic bombers—claimed to be 34 percent of Russia’s cruise missile bomber fleet, with $7 billion in damages.

Russia confirmed fires but no casualties, adding that additional drones were intercepted over Ivanovo, Ryazan, and Amur.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called it Ukraine’s longest-range operation, a symbolic boost ahead of Istanbul ceasefire talks, even as analysts debate its true military impact.