In a dramatic turn of events in its war against Russia, Ukraine mounted a mass drone attack on military airbases deep within Russian territory on Sunday. The operation, “Spider’s Web,” saw 117 drones and operators attack targets thousands of kilometres behind the frontline. President Volodymyr Zelensky hailed the mission as a “brilliant” and “justified” action that greatly damaged Russia’s strategic aviation capabilities.

Zelensky asserted that Ukrainian troops carried out a very well-coordinated operation in several Russian regions, covering three time zones. “Our people worked in several Russian regions. Preparation lasted more than a year and a half. Planning, organisation, every detail – perfectly. It can be confidently stated that this was an exceptional operation,” he wrote on X.

Strategic Losses for Russia After Drone Attack

Ukrainian President announced that Ukrainian forces destroyed more than 40 strategic aviation units at Russian airfields. These included carrier ships designed to launch cruise missiles. “It’s nice when something I ordered a year and a half ago materializes and takes away more than forty units of strategic aviation from the Russians. We will keep working like this,” Zelensky said.

Zelensky also stressed the need to protect the operatives who took part in the operation, saying that all the personnel who were supporting Kyiv were extracted from Russian soil before the drone attack and taken to a safe location.

The drone attack, according to Zelensky, came in retaliation against new intelligence reports that indicated Russia was planning to resume a series of missile attacks. He cautioned Ukrainians to remain alert and observe air raid warnings. “There were almost 500 Russian drones, strike drones, last night. Every week, they have been raising the number of units per strike. Now, they have even prepared Kalibr missiles launched from naval carriers,” he cautioned.

Zelensky Restates Ceasefire Proposal

Zelensky also repeated that Ukraine never started the war and has been willing to negotiate for peace. “Not for one second did we want this war. Since March 11, the American initiative of a complete and unconditional ceasefire has been on the negotiating table. It was the Russians who decided to keep conducting the war,” he stated.

The drone strike came a day before planned peace negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow in Istanbul. Ukraine wanted to destroy bombers that were far from the front lines, reports indicate. Strikes hit Russian airbases at Belaya (eastern Siberia), Olenya (close to Finland), Ivanovo, and Dyagilevo (east of Moscow).

Two bridges collapsed in Russia’s Kursk and Bryansk provinces in related incidents, killing seven people and derailing trains. Russian officials blame explosions as the cause of the damage.