Kyiv claims destruction of 41 Russian aircraft in daring drone offensive
Kyiv – Three days after Ukraine’s bold assault on Russia’s strategic airfields, questions are mounting over whether the unprecedented operation—codenamed Operation Spider’s Web—marks a pivotal shift in the trajectory of the war.
On Wednesday, Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU), which led the operation, released dramatic new footage of Sunday’s coordinated drone strikes. The four-minute video compilation, filmed from onboard drones, shows precision strikes against Russian military aircraft, many of them believed to be armed and ready for combat.
Satellite imagery confirms visible destruction at four key Russian airbases: Olenya, Ivanovo, Dyagilevo, and Belaya. The burned silhouettes of bombers and support planes are visible on the tarmac, suggesting extensive damage. According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, 41 aircraft were either destroyed or critically damaged—half of which he says are beyond repair.
“Some of these planes will take years to restore, if at all,” Zelensky declared at a medal ceremony for SBU officers. He emphasized that such an operation would not have occurred if a ceasefire had been in place, underscoring Ukraine’s determination to maintain offensive capabilities.
Military analysts inside Ukraine are hailing the operation as historic. Roman Pohorlyi, founder of DeepState, a military intelligence group, described it as “one of the most brilliant operations in our history.” He noted that the mission had been in planning for over 18 months.
Among the most significant targets were two Beriev A-50 AWACS aircraft—critical to Russia’s ability to coordinate long-range aerial operations. These aircraft, equipped with powerful radar capable of detecting targets up to 600km away, are irreplaceable assets. Only around nine A-50s were believed to be operational before the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began. With previous losses and potential damage in Sunday’s strike, Russia’s fleet may now be down to as few as four.
“Restarting A-50 production is highly unlikely due to sanctions, broken supply chains, and damaged infrastructure,” said defense analyst Serhii Kuzan. “Each loss is a strategic blow Russia cannot quickly recover from.”
While the full impact of Operation Spider’s Web is still being assessed, Ukraine’s successful strike deep into Russian territory with 117 coordinated drones sends a clear signal: Kyiv’s reach is growing, and its resolve remains undeterred.