Ukraine's Operation Spider-Web: A Game Changer in Modern Warfare

In a significant escalation of its conflict with Russia, Ukraine conducted a large-scale drone attack on June 1, 2025, targeting five military airfields deep within Russian territory. According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the operation, dubbed "Operation Spider's Web," involved 117 drones aimed at destroying key military assets, including Tu-95 and Tu-22 strategic bombers. The drones were reportedly concealed under wooden cabin roofs on trucks, allowing them to evade detection until the moment of launch. Russia's defense ministry confirmed that attacks occurred in the Murmansk, Irkutsk, Ivanovo, Ryazan, and Amur regions, with some aircraft catching fire. While Moscow claimed to have intercepted some drones, it acknowledged that the attacks inflicted damage on military aircraft valued at approximately $7 billion, according to Ukrainian sources. This drone assault marks Ukraine's most extensive operation since the beginning of the war and comes at a sensitive diplomatic time, as Ukraine's defense minister is set to meet with Russian officials in Istanbul amid ongoing peace discussions.

A Ukrainian drone attack on Sunday has reportedly destroyed over 40 military planes deep within Russian territory, according to Ukraine’s Security Service. The operation, dubbed "Web," was supervised by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and took more than a year to execute, employing advanced techniques to smuggle drones into Russia. The drone strike targeted aircraft including A-50, Tu-95, and Tu-22M bombers at military airfields in the Irkutsk and Murmansk regions, more than 2,500 miles from Ukraine. Estimates suggest the damage could be around $7 billion, representing 34 percent of Russia’s air missile carriers, though these figures have not been independently verified. This significant attack coincides with a new round of peace talks in Istanbul, where a Ukrainian delegation is set to discuss cessation of hostilities with Russian officials. Despite efforts for dialogue, the conflict remains intense, with Russia launching its largest aerial assault on Ukraine since the escalation began in February 2022, deploying nearly 500 drones and seven missiles. Ukrainian officials reported casualties as at least 12 service members were killed during a separate missile strike on an army training unit.

As Russian occupation persists in Ukraine, one-fifth of the nation remains under foreign control, leaving locals like Mavka, Pavlo, and Iryna grappling with increasing pressures. Residents in occupied cities, including Melitopol and Mariupol, face mandatory Russian citizenship to access work and healthcare, raising fears of repression for any acts of defiance, as reported by the BBC. Mavka, who has joined a secret resistance movement named Zla Mavka, shares that the group aims to uplift Ukrainian spirits through subtle acts of defiance amid rising militarization and "Russification" in her city. Meanwhile, in Mariupol, Pavlo reflects on the devastation suffered during its siege, and the persistent preoccupation with property recovery among locals. Iryna, who remains in Crimea, stresses the dangers of openly expressing Ukrainian identity due to potential repercussions from Russian authorities. Despite the oppressive atmosphere, these civilians continue to find ways to resist and maintain hope. The fear of permanent occupation looms, as locals anxiously watch developments in Kyiv, yearning for stronger support from the Ukrainian government.