Journalist shares details about drone attack on Russian strategic bombers
Yuriy Butusov, the editor-in-chief of Censor.NET, shared new details about a groundbreaking operation by Ukraine's SBU Security Service that successfully used strike drones to cripple Russian strategic aviation on June 1.
This operation is noted as the first of its kind in history and is expected to be featured in military history textbooks, Butusov said in a Telegram post.
This defeat is one of the costliest for Russia in terms of losses and significantly reduces the number of Russia's strategic nuclear forces.
"At the moment, according to our sources, 41 strategic and military transport aircraft of the Russian Armed Forces have been hit at four bases," Butusov said.
“Some of the drones attacked with auto-targeting, and the results of their strikes will be determined using satellite images.”
A group of SBU agents managed to transport 150 small strike drones and 300 munitions into Russia, with 116 drones successfully launched.
"The drones were controlled through Russian telecommunications networks, using auto-targeting," the journalist added.
"Several mobile takeoff points" in Russia were located near Russian strategic aviation bases.
"The drones attacked from a short distance during the day in the enemy's deep rear," the journalist described the factors that made the attack so successful.
“The airbases were covered by significant air defense forces - anti-aircraft missile systems, electronic warfare systems, and patrols with small arms. But the Russians were expecting night strikes by heavy large attack drones, which are clearly visible in the air, and did not expect an attack by small quadcopters in broad daylight.”
He noted that the most successful was the attack on the Olenya airfield, where the drones accurately hit the filled fuel tanks and a significant number of aircraft burned to ashes.
All SBU agents had successfully returned to Ukraine, which has not suffered any losses.
According to Butusov, the operation had the following consequences:
- billions of dollars worth of military equipment was destroyed;
- strategic aircraft, which Russia does not produce, were destroyed;
- the enemy's strike capabilities were weakened, as these aircraft were an important component of constant terrorist attacks on Ukrainian cities;
- the aggressor state will have to spend a lot of money to strengthen the defense of its bases and facilities.
Operation Cobweb
On June 1, the SBU conducted a large-scale operation to destroy Russian aircraft. According to NV sources, over 40 aircraft used by Russia to attack Ukrainian cities, including A-50, Tu-95, and Tu-22 M3, were hit. The aircraft at the Olenya and Belaya airfields were struck by drones launched from nearby parked trucks.
NV sources reported that the Russian aviation suffered damages amounting to $2 billion.
NV also obtained videos showing Russian aircraft burning at the airfields. One video features the voice of SBU head Vasyl Maliuk, saying, "This is how the Belaya airfield looks now. Enemy strategic aviation."
Later, NV sources in the special services clarified that 41 Russian strategic aviation aircraft were destroyed during Operation Pavutyna (“Cobweb”). The operation was personally overseen by Ukrainian President and Commander-in-Chief Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and implemented by SBU head Vasyl Maliuk and his team.
The operation was logistically complex and was being prepared for over a year and a half. Initially, the SBU transported FPV drones to Russia, followed by mobile wooden sheds, under whose roofs the drones were hidden. At the right moment, the roofs of the sheds were remotely opened, and the drones flew out to strike Russian bombers.
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