(Chelyabinsk) – Truck drivers unknowingly helped Ukraine strike deep into Russian territory by transporting drones hidden inside what they believed were prefabricated houses, as part of a bold Ukrainian operation targeting Russian military airfields.
According to Russian media outlet Baza, drivers were misled about their cargo and monitored throughout their journeys. The intercepted testimonies came from Russian investigative authorities following the aftermath of “Operation Spider’s Web,” a covert campaign by Ukrainian special forces aimed at Russian strategic aviation.
One driver, 55-year-old Alexander Z. from Chelyabinsk, claimed he was hired by a businessman to deliver frame houses to the Kolsky district in Murmansk. He said he received step-by-step instructions by phone and was told to park near a Rosneft petrol station close to a military airfield. It was from this point that the drones launched toward their intended targets.
Another driver, 61-year-old Andrey M., was directed to the Irkutsk region but stopped near a roadside café where drones took off from the truck. A similar account was given by a 46-year-old named Sergey in the Ryazan region, whose truck roof reportedly opened mid-journey as drones began to fly out. A fourth truck, also traced back to Chelyabinsk and linked to a man named Artem, launched drones near Ivanovo airfield.
All trucks used were allegedly owned by the same Artem, a 37-year-old man currently being sought by Russian authorities. He is believed to have Ukrainian origins, prompting Russian officials to file terrorism charges. The warehouse where the drones were believed to have been assembled — at 28A Sverdlovsky Trakt Street, Chelyabinsk — has been raided by Russian security forces.
This warehouse was reportedly identified from photos shared by Ukraine’s Security Service. Following the strikes, Russia launched mass inspections of trucks across the country, especially in the Irkutsk region, leading to long traffic delays and mounting panic.
Operation Spider’s Web successfully targeted major military airfields in Belaya, Ivanovo, Ukrainka, Olenya, and Dyagilevo. Satellite imagery and flight analysis confirm damage to key assets in Russia’s strategic aviation fleet.
The operation stands as a sharp and unexpected blow to Russian military infrastructure, showing Ukraine’s ability to strike deep using surprise and ingenuity and to use the enemy’s own systems against itself.
