RUSSIA – Ukraine launched a large-scale drone attack on Sunday, targeting multiple Russian air bases across five regions, including locations deep within Siberia and near the Arctic Circle, in an operation Ukrainian security services have dubbed “Operation Spider’s Web.” The coordinated assault reportedly damaged dozens of strategic aircraft and comes just hours before a new round of peace talks between Ukraine and Russia is set to begin in Istanbul.

Key Facts:

• Widespread Targets: Ukrainian drones struck Russian airfields in at least five regions, including Murmansk, Irkutsk, Ivanovo, and Ryazan, with some targets more than 2,500 miles from the Ukrainian border.
• “Operation Spider’s Web” Methodology: The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) stated that the operation involved secretly transporting drones into Russian territory within wooden sheds on trucks, which were then remotely opened to launch the attacks.
• Claimed Damage: Ukrainian officials claim that the attacks hit 41 Russian warplanes, including strategic bombers like the Tu-95 and Tu-22M3, and an A-50 airborne early warning and control aircraft, with estimated damages reaching $7 billion.

The sophisticated operation, which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated had been in planning for over a year and a half, marks one of Ukraine’s most ambitious and long-range attacks since the start of the conflict.

Strategic Reach: Hitting Russia’s Air Capabilities

The targeted Russian air bases, such as the Belaya air base in the Irkutsk region and the Olenya air base in Murmansk, are significant strategic assets for Russia. The Belaya base reportedly hosts Tupolev Tu-22M supersonic long-range strategic bombers, which have been used to launch missiles at Ukrainian targets. The Olenya base is known to house nuclear-capable aircraft. The timing of the attacks, just prior to peace negotiations in Istanbul, raises questions about Ukraine’s intent.

“Operation Spider’s Web” Unveiled

According to Ukrainian security officials, “Operation Spider’s Web” involved an intricate logistical effort. Drones, some reportedly short-range quadrocopters, were smuggled into Russia inside mobile wooden cabins mounted on trucks. These trucks were then positioned near the targeted airfields. At the opportune moment, the roofs of the cabins were remotely opened, allowing the drones to take flight and strike the aircraft. This method suggests a network of operatives capable of operating covertly across vast distances, highlighting the evolving nature of warfare and Ukraine’s efforts to adapt.

Russian Response and Casualties

Russia’s Defense Ministry acknowledged the drone attacks, stating that airfields in five regions were targeted and that several aircraft caught fire in Murmansk and Irkutsk. The ministry claimed that other attacks were repelled and that there were no casualties. It also reported detaining “some participants” in the attacks. Independent verification of the claims from both sides regarding the extent of damage and casualties remains difficult.

The attacks occurred on a day of escalating violence, with Russia also launching a massive aerial assault on Ukraine, deploying 472 drones and seven missiles overnight. Ukrainian officials reported that this was the largest combined overnight aerial assault since the war began in February 2022, with at least 18 targets struck. Earlier on Sunday, a Russian missile strike on a Ukrainian military training base in the Dnipro region killed at least 12 soldiers and wounded over 60, a rare public acknowledgment of casualties by Ukraine.

Peace Talks on the Horizon

Despite the intensified hostilities, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that a delegation, led by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, would be sent to Istanbul for peace talks on Monday. Ukrainian officials had previously indicated that they were waiting for Russia to provide a memorandum outlining its cease-fire terms.

Can these talks achieve any breakthrough amidst such escalating conflict? The willingness of both sides to meet, even as fighting intensifies, underscores the complex and often contradictory dynamics of the ongoing war.