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Watch: Ukraine Reveals Exclusive Footage of Massive Drone Attack on Russian Strategic Bombers
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![Ivan_khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
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Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) on June 4 released footage from Operation “Spiderweb,” showing drone strikes on Russian strategic aircraft across four airfields.
According to the SBU, the operation targeted the Olenya, Ivanovo, Dyagilevo, and Belaya air bases, all of which host long-range aircraft regularly used in attacks on Ukrainian cities.
The strikes reportedly destroyed or severely damaged 41 aircraft, including A-50 surveillance planes, Tu-95, Tu-22, and Tu-160 bombers, as well as An-12 and Il-78 transport and refueling aircraft.
Ukrainian officials estimate the damage at over $7 billion. Many of the aircraft were deemed irreparable, with others expected to require years of restoration.
The operation was carried out using FPV drones equipped with both autonomous artificial intelligence navigation and manual control capabilities.
According to the SBU, some drones were pre-programmed to switch to autonomous mode in the event of signal loss and continue toward their designated targets using AI algorithms. Upon reaching the target, the warheads were automatically triggered.
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President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and SBU Chief Vasyl Malyuk supervised the operation. Zelenskyy later stated that the drone strikes would not have been launched had Russia agreed to a ceasefire. Ukraine had proposed a 30-day truce during negotiations in Istanbul on June 2, which Moscow declined.
“If there had been a ceasefire, would the operation have taken place? No,” Zelenskyy said during a briefing with journalists on June 4.
The SBU noted that this was one of its most technically complex drone operations to date, involving the covert transport and deployment of drones deep inside Russian territory.
