Articles in this Cluster
02-06-2025
Ukraine says it carried out its largest long-range drone operation of the war, targeting 40 Russian warplanes across four airbases using 117 smuggled FPV drones in an SBU-led “Spider’s Web” mission. Kyiv claims strikes hit Tu-95, Tu-22M3, and A-50 aircraft and caused about $7bn in damage; Russia acknowledged attacks in five regions but said most were repelled, with some aircraft fires and no casualties. The operation allegedly used drones hidden in mobile wooden cabins on trucks near the bases, remotely launched at the right moment. The strikes coincided with massive Russian drone and missile attacks on Ukraine and come ahead of low-expectation peace talks in Istanbul. Separately, a Russian strike on a Ukrainian training center killed 12 and injured over 60, prompting the land forces chief to resign.
Entities: Ukraine, Russia, SBU, Tu-95, Tu-22M3 • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: neutral • Intent: inform
02-06-2025
CNN’s Bianna Golodryga interviews retired US Air Force Col. Cedric Leighton about Ukraine’s long-range “Operation Spider Web,” a coordinated drone campaign striking Russian air bases far behind the front lines. Leighton explains how Ukraine combined intelligence, targeting, and swarming drone tactics to penetrate air defenses, disrupt Russian aviation assets, and demonstrate expanding Ukrainian reach and technological sophistication. The discussion highlights strategic implications for Russia’s rear-area security and the evolving role of drones in modern warfare.
Entities: Ukraine, Operation Spider Web, CNN, Bianna Golodryga, Cedric Leighton • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: neutral • Intent: inform
02-06-2025
Ukraine conducted a meticulously planned drone operation striking multiple Russian air bases deep inside Russia—Belaya (Irkutsk), Olenya (Murmansk), Diaghilev (Ryazan), and Ivanovo—damaging or destroying up to 41 aircraft, including strategic bombers and surveillance planes, according to Ukraine’s Security Service. The drones were reportedly smuggled into Russia, concealed in mobile wooden sheds on trucks, and launched near the targets using Russian telecom networks for remote control. Analysts say even partial confirmation of the claimed damage would significantly degrade Russia’s long-range strike capacity against Ukraine. Russia acknowledged attacks launched from near the bases but downplayed their impact; prominent Russian military bloggers criticized severe security failures. Ukraine says the operation took over a year to prepare and was executed without on-site pilots or casualties reported by Russia.
Entities: Ukraine, Russia, Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), Belaya Air Base (Irkutsk), Olenya Air Base (Murmansk) • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: neutral • Intent: inform
02-06-2025
Ukraine launched a large-scale, long-planned drone attack deep inside Russia, striking major air bases and reportedly damaging over 40 aircraft—including Tu-95 and Tu-22M3 bombers and an A-50—inflicting an estimated $7 billion in losses and hitting a third of Russia’s strategic cruise-missile carriers. The operation, which allegedly involved smuggled drones concealed in mobile wooden houses, underscores Kyiv’s continued capacity to pressure Moscow and may force Russia to divert resources to internal security. The strike joins a series of high-impact Ukrainian actions since 2022, including sinking the Black Sea Fleet’s flagship Moskva, repeated sea-drone hits on Russian naval assets, damaging the Kerch bridge with an experimental sea drone, and a string of unclaimed assassinations of Russian military figures inside Russia. These actions have eroded Russian military capabilities, imposed strategic costs, and created domestic vulnerabilities for the Kremlin.
Entities: Ukraine, Russia, Tu-95, Tu-22M3, A-50 • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: neutral • Intent: inform
02-06-2025
Ukraine conducted “Operation Spider’s Web,” an 18-month-planned series of coordinated drone strikes deep inside Russia that reportedly damaged or destroyed numerous bomber and surveillance aircraft across five airfields. Overseen by President Zelensky, the operation used small FPV drones launched from trucks with concealed cabins inside Russia, minimizing air-defense reaction time. Ukraine claims up to 34% of Russia’s strategic bombers were hit, estimating $7 billion in damages (unconfirmed), while U.S. officials assess 11–15 aircraft were likely affected. Russia called it a terrorist act but acknowledged fires at airfields. The Pentagon was not informed in advance and is assessing whether drones were piloted or autonomous. The raid likely degrades Russia’s long-range strike capability, targeting TU-95, TU-22M3, and potentially an A-50 radar plane, and came just before planned Istanbul peace talks.
Entities: Ukraine, Russia, Operation Spider’s Web, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, TU-95 • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: neutral • Intent: inform
02-06-2025
Ukraine launched a large-scale drone strike deep inside Russia, reportedly destroying around 40 Russian warplanes across multiple airbases, including A-50, Tu-95, and Tu-22M aircraft used for surveillance and long-range strikes. The operation, said to be over a year in planning, involved drones covertly transported by truck. Russia’s defense ministry confirmed attacks on five airfields. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reportedly oversaw the operation. The White House said President Donald Trump was not notified in advance. The strikes came ahead of planned ceasefire talks in Istanbul and followed explosions damaging bridges in Russia’s Bryansk and Kursk regions.
Entities: Ukraine, Russia, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Russian Ministry of Defense, A-50 • Tone: urgent • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
02-06-2025
Ukraine launched a major covert drone attack on multiple Russian airbases, reportedly damaging or destroying over 40 aircraft, including Tu-95 and Tu-22 bombers and possibly an A-50 radar plane. The operation, dubbed “Spider’s Web,” involved FPV drones smuggled into Russia and hidden in mobile sheds mounted on trucks, then remotely launched to strike targets. Pro-Kremlin bloggers labeled it “Russia’s Pearl Harbor,” highlighting the scale and humiliation for Vladimir Putin. The raid underscores how low-cost tech can threaten high-value assets, raising global security concerns and pressuring Moscow to retaliate—potentially with escalatory rhetoric—just as planned peace talks loom. Ukraine’s move signals a calculated gamble amid ongoing Russian escalation.
Entities: Ukraine, Russia, Vladimir Putin, Tu-95, Tu-22 • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
02-06-2025
Ukraine carried out a large-scale covert operation striking Russian bomber aircraft at multiple bases deep inside Russia, using 117 smuggled FPV drones launched from concealed truck-mounted containers. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said about 34% of strategic cruise-missile carriers at targeted airfields were hit and called the action historic. The operation, planned over 18 months and supervised by Zelenskyy, reportedly targeted at least four bases—Belaya, Diagilevo, Olenya, and Ivanovo—damaging or destroying more than 40 aircraft, including A-50, Tu-95, and Tu-22M3, with claimed damages exceeding $2bn. Ukrainian operatives were extracted safely before the strikes; videos shared by Ukraine’s SBU show burning bombers, highlighting vulnerabilities in Russia’s air defenses.
Entities: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine, Russian airbases, SBU (Security Service of Ukraine), FPV drones • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: positive • Intent: inform
