A recent large-scale Ukrainian drone attack, dubbed Operation Spiderweb, has dealt a significant psychological blow to Russia, experts say. The operation, which targeted four Russian airfields deep inside Russia, destroyed as much as a third of Russia’s strategic bomber fleet on June 1. This bold move has forced Russia to build shelters for its bombers and relocate them, demonstrating Ukraine‘s ability to strike high-value targets thousands of miles from the front lines.
The attack, which involved 117 drones smuggled into Russia and launched simultaneously near Russian airfields, showcased Ukraine’s tactical prowess. According to Keir Giles, Eurasia expert at the Chatham House think tank, the drones used the Russian cellphone network but were controlled from Ukraine, “piggybacking on the radio network and hiding in noise.” This level of sophistication suggests that Ukraine had people on the ground in Russia who assembled the drone components and planned the operation meticulously.
Minna Alander, a fellow with the Transatlantic Defense and Security Programme at the Center for European Policy Analysis, notes that Ukraine “demonstrated to Russia that they do not have a sanctuary anymore on their own territory.” Seth Krummrich, a former US army colonel and vice president of Global Guardian, a security consultancy, praises the operation as “asymmetric genius,” highlighting Ukraine’s ability to outthink and outmaneuver the Russian military.
The operation’s success can be measured by Russia’s response, with satellite images showing major excavations at several airbases in Russia and annexed Crimea, as Russia constructs shelters for military aircraft. Furthermore, all Tupolev-95 strategic bombers had left Russia’s Olenya airbase in the Murmansk region by June 7, indicating a significant shift in Russia’s military posture.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has consistently emphasized the importance of developing long-range capabilities to respond symmetrically to Russian threats. Three days before Operation Spiderweb, Zelenskyy stated, “We must manufacture all of them – attack drones, interceptors, cruise missiles, Ukrainian ballistic systems.” Ukraine’s growing capabilities have already changed Russian threat perceptions several times during this war, often targeting the Russian air force.
While the drone strike is a significant psychological blow to Russia, experts caution that it may not be a decisive factor in winning the war. As Seth Krummrich puts it, “The cornerstone of this fight remains an infantryman’s bullets, artillery shells, armour, and all the vehicles and transports logistically required to support a vast front line in a defensive war.” Nevertheless, Ukraine’s Operation Spiderweb has undoubtedly demonstrated its ability to adapt and innovate in the face of ongoing conflict.