Escalating Drone Warfare: Ukraine's Strategic Strikes Cause Damage to Russian Airbases
Satellite imagery acquired shortly after Ukraine executed a significant drone strike on Russian airbases reveals the extensive devastation inflicted upon key military assets. The operation, designated Operation Spiderweb, involved the deployment of 117 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) targeting at least four airbases across Russia. The primary focus of this operation included military installations in the Siberian region of Irkutsk, with evidence emerging from pictures taken on June 2, the day following the strikes.
John Ford, a research associate at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies, stated that the images of the Belaya military airbase seem to depict the wreckage of multiple aircraft along the runway and located in protective revetments nearby. Notably, the pictures indicate the destruction of two Tu-22 Backfire strategic bombers - capable of long-range missile strikes against Ukraine. Furthermore, drone footage disseminated via social media corroborates claims that four strategic Tu-95 bombers were either destroyed or severely damaged in the strike.
Open-source intelligence analyst Brady Africk concurred with Ford's observations regarding the destruction of several Tu-95 and Tu-22 aircraft at the Irkutsk airbase, yet he emphasized a requirement for additional imagery to fully evaluate the impact. Nonetheless, it is evident that the attack was a significant tactical success. The aircraft that were targeted have been historically deployed by Russia for missile strikes against Ukraine, with Belaya airbase also serving as a base for numerous flat decoy aircraft, which ultimately failed to distract Ukrainian drones during the assault.
In a related development, Ukraine executed an underwater explosion that caused notable damage to the pylons supporting the Kerch Bridge - a key route connecting Crimea, which is occupied by Russia, to the mainland. The blast was equivalent to over a metric ton of TNT, according to Ukraine's SBU security service. This attack represents the second major embarrassment for President Vladimir Putin's regime within a span of three days. The Kerch Bridge, a flagship project initiated by Putin, has previously suffered damage after a truck explosion in October 2022 as well as subsequent drone attacks.
Lieutenant General Vasyl Maliuk of the SBU characterized the bridge as a legitimate military target, especially considering its role as a supply line for Russian troops in Crimea. "Crimea is Ukraine, and any manifestations of occupation will receive our tough response," he stated.
Contrarily, amidst these escalations, a Russian attack in the northeastern Ukrainian city of Sumy resulted in at least four fatalities and 25 injured civilians, according to local officials. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the assault, labeling it a clear indication of Russia's unrelenting aggression. Additionally, Russian rocket artillery fire targeted Chystovodivka village in the Kharkiv region, leading to further casualties.
These attacks took place just after inconclusive peace negotiations in Istanbul, which saw no progress towards a ceasefire. Dmitry Medvedev, former Russian Prime Minister and current member of the Security Council, indicated a lack of sincerity from the Kremlin, suggesting that negotiations were merely a façade aimed at achieving a military victory rather than genuine peace efforts.
Ukrainian chief of staff Andriy Yermak and Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha echoed sentiments of frustration regarding the stalled negotiations, asserting that Russia's failure to respond to proposals indicated its continued intention for prolonged conflict.
In a separate development, the United Kingdom announced a substantial military support initiative – pledging to supply 100,000 drones to Ukraine by April 2026. This initiative, amounting to £350 million, falls within a broader military assistance package valued at £45 billion, to be presented at a multinational defense meeting in Brussels co-hosted by Germany. Notably, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will not be in attendance at this significant gathering, despite the presence of other defense ministers.
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