**Ukraine’s SBU Releases New Footage of Operation Spiderweb, Teases New Surprises**
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has released a new video detailing the sequence of its mass drone strike against Russia’s strategic aviation earlier this month. The operation, dubbed “Operation Spiderweb,” was carried out on June 1 and involved 117 drones that were hidden in trucks across Russia.
According to the SBU, the strike targeted four air bases, some thousands of kilometers from the Ukrainian border. The attack damaged 41 aircraft, including rare bombers and spy planes, causing damage of over $7 billion. The SBU said that the preparations for the operation took place in the Russian city of Chelyabinsk, not far from a Federal Security Service (FSB) office.
The SBU’s Operation Spiderweb was a complex and sophisticated attack that involved deploying drones deep behind enemy lines. The agency used specially designed drones that could be remotely controlled in real-time thousands of kilometers away from their launch point. This allowed the drones to bypass Russian defenses and effectively strike strategic targets, including air bases and aircraft.
**A New Era in Drone Warfare**
The success of Operation Spiderweb has been hailed by Ukrainian leaders and Western partners as a significant development in drone warfare. NATO Admiral Pierre Vandier called it a “reinvention of the Trojan Horse” method, highlighting the technical and industrial creativity that went into planning and executing the attack.
The use of drones to target strategic aviation is a game-changer in modern warfare. It allows Ukraine to strike at Russian military targets without putting its own troops at risk. The SBU’s success has also raised questions about the vulnerability of Russia’s military infrastructure, particularly in areas far from the front lines.
**Russia’s Response**
While Russia acknowledged damage to its aircraft, it claimed that all of them would be restored. However, independent estimates suggest that between 10 and 13 planes were completely destroyed, with more damaged beyond repair. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed that roughly half of the 41 targeted planes have been damaged beyond repair.
The success of Operation Spiderweb has also raised expectations for future attacks. SBU chief Vasyl Maliuk said that Ukraine was working on new surprises that would be “no less painful” than the operation. This suggests that Ukraine is committed to continuing its drone warfare campaign, and Russia should be prepared for further strikes.
**A New Era in Ukrainian- Western Cooperation**
The success of Operation Spiderweb has also highlighted the growing cooperation between Ukraine and Western partners. NATO Admiral Pierre Vandier praised the operation as a demonstration of “technical and industrial creativity.” This suggests that Ukraine is receiving significant support from its international partners, including access to advanced technology and expertise.
In turn, President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed that roughly half of the 41 targeted planes have been damaged beyond repair. Russia acknowledged damage to its aircraft but claimed all of them will be “restored.”
