(Kyiv) – Ukraine’s Security Service has carried out one of its most devastating drone operations to date, striking deep into Russian territory and reportedly destroying or seriously damaging over 40 military aircraft in a single coordinated mission. The overnight operation, known under the codename “Web,” marks a significant escalation in Ukraine’s capacity to carry out long-range precision strikes using domestically developed drone technology.
The targeted sites included four major airbases: Belaya, Diaghilevo, Olenya, and Ivanovo. Among the aircraft hit were strategic bombers such as the Tu-95 and Tu-22M3, as well as a rare and highly valuable A-50 early warning aircraft. These warplanes have long been used to launch missile attacks on Ukrainian cities, but according to one SBU officer, “Their impunity is over.”
Video footage obtained by Ukrainian outlets shows massive explosions and raging fires at the airfields, with voices celebrating the success of the mission. One of those voices is allegedly that of Lieutenant General Vasyl Maliuk, Chief of the SBU, who reportedly supervised the mission personally. “Bavovna,” a Ukrainian slang word now synonymous with fiery explosions on Russian-held ground, echoed through the intercepts.
Preliminary internal estimates from Ukrainian sources value the loss to Russian strategic aviation at over 1.73 billion pounds sterling (2.2 billion US dollars), making it one of the costliest strikes inflicted on Russian assets since the full-scale invasion began in 2022.
No official response has been issued by Russia’s Defence Ministry, but the silence stands in contrast to visible chaos at the targeted sites. According to Ukrainian officials, further assessments may reveal even higher damage figures in the coming days.
The operation highlights the evolution of Ukraine’s Security Service from a primarily intelligence-focused agency to one with increasing offensive capabilities.
