Operation “Web” - Ukrainian Drones Strike Strategic Russian Bombers

For the first time since the war began, a strike was carried out on targets in Siberia, Orda.kz reports.

On June 1, reports began circulating online about FPV drone strikes on Russian strategic aviation airfields. The first mentions appeared around 3:30 PM Astana time.

Initially, it was reported that the Olenya airbase in Russia’s Murmansk region had been attacked. Later, it emerged that drones also targeted the “Belaya” military base airfield in Irkutsk region—marking the first-ever attack on Russian military sites located in Siberia.

Drone strikes also hit the Dyagilevo airfield in the Ryazan region and Ivanovo Severny in the Ivanovo region.

It was discovered that the military bases were attacked using trucks parked near the installations. FPV drones were launched directly from the trailers of these trucks.

According to sources within Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU), cited by the BBC, the operation — dubbed “Web” —had been in preparation for a year and a half and was personally overseen by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The SBU claims that over 40 strategic aircraft were damaged or destroyed during the operation, accounting for more than 30% of Russia’s entire strategic air fleet. These included bombers used in strikes against Ukrainian territory. Russian unofficial sources, however, mention a lower figure — about 10 aircraft.

According to an official statement from the Russian Ministry of Defense, five airfields were targeted in Murmansk, Irkutsk, Ivanovo, Ryazan, and Amur regions:

At military airfields in Ivanovo, Ryazan, and Amur regions, all terrorist attacks were repelled. In Murmansk and Irkutsk regions, the launch of FPV drones from areas in close proximity to the airfields resulted in fires affecting several aircraft, the statement read. 

The Ministry also claimed there were no casualties among military personnel or civilians, and that all fires had been extinguished.

On the morning of June 1, two railway bridges in Russia also collapsed. While initial reports suggested sabotage, this information was not confirmed.

The Insider, meanwhile, reports that drone footage analysis suggests at least seven strategic bombers were destroyed in the attacks.

Ukrainian OSINT analyst Dnipro Osint (Harbuz) reviewed drone videos from the Olenya and Belaya base attacks (Murmansk and Irkutsk regions). He estimates that at least seven strategic bombers — Tu-95 and Tu-22M3 —were destroyed, along with one An-12 military transport plane.

His assessment is partially confirmed by pro-Russian “Z-blogger” Kirill Fedorov, who counted slightly more aircraft losses: “up to four Tu-95s, one An-12 cargo plane, and up to five Tu-22M3s.”

The Russian Ministry of Defense had claimed that only “several aircraft caught fire.”

Talks In Istanbul

Russia and Ukraine are set to resume talks on June 2 in Istanbul. Ukraine has confirmed this, and Russia, having initially proposed resuming the talks, has also sent a delegation. 

Reuters has published the full text of the Ukrainian memorandum, scheduled to be discussed during the negotiations with Russia in Istanbul. The document consists of five sections: key principles, ceasefire, prisoner exchange, confidence-building measures, and a meeting of leaders.

Russia has yet to release its version:

The Russian delegation, headed by Russian Presidential Aide Vladimir Medinsky, will be in Istanbul on June 2 to conduct the second round of the mentioned negotiations. They will bring a draft memorandum and other proposals for a ceasefire.said Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova on May 30.

Among Ukraine's main conditions:

• A complete and unconditional ceasefire on land, in the air, and at sea for at least 30 days, with the possibility of extension
• Ceasefire monitoring is proposed to be carried out by the United States, with the participation of third countries
• Ukraine demands the exchange of all prisoners, security guarantees, participation of international partners in the negotiations, and a commitment to the principle of non-return to aggression
• Ukraine insists it is not obligated to maintain neutrality, reserving the right to join the EU and NATO
• Kyiv does not intend to limit the size of its army or the deployment of foreign troops
• The line of contact may serve as a starting point for further negotiations. The issue of territories will be discussed only after a stable ceasefire is established