Ukrainian drone attack strikes $7-billion blow to Russian strategic aviation as peace talks loom in Istanbul

In a dramatic escalation that reverberates far beyond the battlefield, Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) announced on 1 June that it had successfully struck Russian military aircraft worth an estimated $7 billion in a large-scale drone operation.

As fighting intensifies, the Ukrainian strike highlights a defiant push for leverage, while the peace process, clouded by Putin’s ambitions and Trump’s uneven mediation, offers little promise of ending the three-year war.

The operation, described by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as the longest-range strike Ukraine has carried out since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, destroyed or seriously damaged over 40 aircraft, including long-range Tu-95 bombers.

According to Ukrainian sources, the special operation, codenamed “Spiderweb”, had been meticulously planned over a year and a half. FPV drones were covertly inserted into Russian territory, concealed in containers disguised as mobile homes and trucks. At the designated time, these drones were remotely launched from inside Russia, targeting airbases at Dyagilevo, Olenya, Ivanovo-Severny, and Belaya. The SBU reported that 34% of Russia’s fleet capable of carrying strategic cruise missiles was destroyed.

Zelenskyy has described the strike as the country’s longest-range operation since the beginning of the war, according to UNIAN.

He posted photographs taken during a briefing by the head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), Vasyl Maliuk. The president thanked him for the successful operation and instructed him to inform the public about the details and results that can be disclosed.

According to Zelenskyy, one year, six months, and nine days passed from the beginning of planning to the effective execution of the operation. The people who prepared it were safely withdrawn from Russian territory:

“Of course, we cannot share everything now, but these are Ukrainian actions that will certainly be written into history books. Ukraine is defending itself, and rightly so – we are doing everything to make Russia feel the necessity of ending this war. Russia started this war, and Russia must end it. Glory to Ukraine!”

The sheds, loaded onto trucks and driven to base perimeters, had remotely activated roof panels that released the drones, the official explained. Photographs shared with Reuters showed dozens of quadcopter drones stacked in an industrial facility, ready for deployment. Igor Kobzev, Irkutsk’s governor, confirmed a drone attack near the Belaya base but omitted specifics. This strike, over 4,300 km from the front lines, underscored Ukraine’s innovative use of simple technology to challenge a stronger foe, a tactic Zelenskyy said would “undoubtedly be in the history books.”

‘Russia’s Pear Harbor’

The Russian reaction was marked by a mix of official acknowledgment and stunned outrage among military bloggers.

The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed the strikes on airfields in Murmansk, Irkutsk, Ivanovo, Ryazan, and Amur, admitting that FPV drones launched from nearby trucks caused several aircraft to catch fire in Murmansk and Irkutsk, though it claimed attacks elsewhere were repelled.

Prominent Russian military bloggers expressed shock at the scale and audacity of the operation, with Ilya Tumanov, known as Fighterbomber, calling it a “dark day for Russia’s long-range aviation” on Telegram, lamenting the vulnerability of bases to drones launched from close range, which rendered defenses like S-300 and Pantsir systems ineffective. Blogger Roman Alekhin labelled it “Russia’s Pearl Harbor,” urging tactical nuclear retaliation, reflecting a sense of humiliation.

While Kyiv celebrated the operation’s success, the international implications are complex. Notably, Ukraine did not inform the United States in advance of the attack. U.S. government sources confirmed to the press that they were unaware of the operation ahead of time, and the White House has offered no official comment. This absence of coordination may raise concerns among Ukraine’s allies, particularly as Western support continues to underpin Ukraine’s defense capacity.

The operation’s timing is also politically significant. The strikes took place just one day before scheduled peace talks in Istanbul, where Ukrainian and Russian delegations are expected to meet on 2 June at the Ciragan Palace. Ukraine’s delegation will be led by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, while Russia will be represented once again by presidential advisor Vladimir Medinsky. It will be the second direct round of talks since 2022; the last meeting, in May, led to a major exchange of prisoners of war.

Zelenskyy outlined Ukraine’s priorities for the talks: an unconditional ceasefire, the release of prisoners, and the return of children forcibly taken from Ukraine. He also expressed the need to prepare for a high-level summit to secure lasting peace and security. Yet Kyiv has also voiced concern about the lack of transparency surrounding Russia’s announced “memorandum,” which reportedly includes new ceasefire proposals. Ukrainian officials insist they must see the document in advance to engage in meaningful dialogue.

The political backdrop adds further tension. The drone offensive underscores Ukraine’s continued ability to project force deep into Russian territory, even as the Kremlin portrays itself as a proponent of renewed negotiations. The juxtaposition raises questions: Is Ukraine strengthening its negotiating hand or risking the fragile diplomatic momentum?

Public messaging from Kyiv has remained consistent: Ukraine is acting in self-defense, and military operations aim to compel Russia to recognize the need to end the war. In Zelenskyy’s words, “Russia started this war. Russia must end it.”

As both sides prepare to return to the negotiating table, the scale of the 1 June attack – combined with the disclosure of Ukraine’s operational autonomy – could redefine the dynamics of the Istanbul talks. Whether the boldness of the “Spiderweb” operation will translate into leverage for peace or further harden positions remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: Ukraine has signaled that its resolve remains unshaken, both militarily and diplomatically.

Sources: Reuters, UNIAN, European Pravda Ukraine, BGNES

Caption: Zelenskyy posted on X pictures with Head of the Security Service of Ukraine Vasyl Maliuk who delivered a report regarding the operation./X/@ZelenskyyUa