Ukraine launched one of the biggest aerial strikes on Russia‘s multiple air bases. While some are calling it an escalation, others are calling it sheer audacity. Details have now surfaced on how Ukraine was able to carry these attacks, or specifically speaking, how they were able to secretly launch the drones into the Russian air space.
Operation Spiderweb: How were the drones smuggled in to Russia?
As per the Ukrainian media, the country was able to secretly deliver the First-person view (FPV) drones and wooden cabins into Russia much earlier.
FPV drones are handled by operators who while using the drone’s camera can spot what is in front of them. The reports suggest that these drones were “hidden under the roofs of the cabins, which were later mounted on trucks”.
Let’s take it step-by-step. Once the drones entered Russia, they were hidden in secret compartments on the roofs of small wooden cabins. These cabins were then placed inside wooden containers and loaded onto trucks. Photos show that the drones, which are quadcopters, were neatly arranged on top of the cabins inside the containers.
Reports suggest that Ukraine’s security agency, the SBU, got local people to drive these trucks to specific locations. The drivers followed instructions and parked the trucks near Russian airbases. It’s likely the drivers didn’t know what they were carrying, since the drones were hidden on the cabin roofs, not inside the cabin.
After parking the trucks, the drivers were told to leave. Once all the trucks were in place near airbases in Belaya, Diaghilevo, Olenya, and Ivanovo, the operation started.
At the right moment, the SBU remotely opened the truck roofs, and the drones flew out one by one, surprising everyone nearby. Video shared by Ukrainian officials shows what the drone cameras saw — rows of Russian warplanes, including bombers. The drone operators then launched the missiles at them.
Igor Kobzev, the governor of Irkutsk, has confirmed that the drone attack on the Sredniy airbase in Siberia came from a truck.
Usually, military drones cost millions and fly very high, showing only blurry images of the targets. But these Ukrainian drones flew very low, giving operators a clear view of the planes.
Ukraine didn’t stop after the drone attack. They had also planted bombs in the trucks. Like something out of a movie, they rigged the trucks to explode.
Videos show that when Russian soldiers tried to check the trucks after the drones flew off, the trucks blew up in massive fireballs.
One curious driver, who went back to his truck to see what happened, was reportedly killed in an explosion. Another driver, suspected of being involved, has been arrested by Russian police.
Ukrainian officials have revealed that they spent 1 to 1.5 years planning this mission, which they named ‘Operation Spiderweb’. The SBU added that the people who carried out the plan had already returned to Ukraine. This means Russia will likely only catch the truck drivers and helpers, who didn’t know about the operation.
By sneaking drones deep into Russia and launching them from nearby, Ukraine was able to accurately hit parked Russian warplanes. Ukraine says they destroyed over 40 aircraft, including Tu-95 and Tu-22M3 bombers, and at least one A-50 surveillance plane.
These bombers are no longer made, so Russia can’t easily replace them. The SBU estimates Russia lost more than $2 billion from this attack.