Category
Latest news

Ukraine’s Drones Wipe Out 13 Russian Warplanes in Deep Strikes, Satellite Images Confirm

2 min read
Authors
Ivan_khomenko
Ivan Khomenko
AUTHOR
Satellite imagery shows three destroyed Tu-95 bombers at Belaya airbase in Irkutsk region. (Source: Schemes / Radio Free Europe / Planet Labs)
Satellite imagery shows three destroyed Tu-95 bombers at Belaya airbase in Irkutsk region. (Source: Schemes / Radio Free Europe / Planet Labs)

Satellite imagery has confirmed the destruction of at least 13 Russian military aircraft following a coordinated Ukrainian drone operation Spider Web targeting multiple airbases across Russia.

The attacks, identified as part of Operation “Pavutyna” (Web), struck the Russian airfields Belaya in Irkutsk region and Olenya in Murmansk region.

According to satellite images analyzed by Schemes, a project of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, June 4 imagery from Planet Labs shows at least seven destroyed strategic bombers at the Belaya airbase—three Tu-95 and four Tu-22M3. The photos also reveal extensive fire damage consistent with drone strikes.

Destroyed Tu-22M3 strategic bomber captured at Belaya airbase. (Source: Schemes / Radio Free Europe / Planet Labs)
Destroyed Tu-22M3 strategic bomber captured at Belaya airbase. (Source: Schemes / Radio Free Europe / Planet Labs)

Further analysis indicated that a fourth Tu-95, initially believed to have been repaired or replaced, was in fact also destroyed. This brings the confirmed losses at Belaya to eight aircraft.

Additional satellite imagery dated June 2 shows the destruction of four more Tu-95 bombers and one An-12 military transport aircraft at the Olenya airbase. This raises the total number of aircraft confirmed destroyed at both sites to 13: eight Tu-95s, four Tu-22M3s, and one An-12.

One of the four Tu-22M3 bombers destroyed at Belaya airbase, visible with blast damage. (Source: Schemes / Radio Free Europe / Planet Labs)
One of the four Tu-22M3 bombers destroyed at Belaya airbase, visible with blast damage. (Source: Schemes / Radio Free Europe / Planet Labs)

Imagery of a third Russian base, Ivanovo, also shows visible damage to aircraft parking areas, including several A-50 airborne early warning aircraft. As of early 2024, Ukraine’s intelligence estimated that only eight A-50s in Russia remained in operational condition.

Two more Tu-22M3 bombers destroyed during the June 1 drone strike on Belaya airbase. (Source: Schemes / Radio Free Europe / Planet Labs)
Two more Tu-22M3 bombers destroyed during the June 1 drone strike on Belaya airbase. (Source: Schemes / Radio Free Europe / Planet Labs)

The drone strikes were reportedly carried out by the Security Service of Ukraine on June 1, using drones that had been pre-positioned inside Russian territory.

The strikes severely degraded Russia’s ability to project strategic power, especially via its long-range nuclear-capable bomber fleet and airborne surveillance assets. These aircraft are no longer in serial production and cannot be quickly replaced, compounding the damage for Russia’s military planners.

See all