Ukraine pulled off a daring drone blitz deep inside Russian territory on Sunday, striking multiple military airfields and catching the Pentagon off guard. The mission, known as “Operation Spider’s Web,” was kept under wraps for a year and a half and wasn’t disclosed to U.S. officials until after it was over, according to sources who spoke with Fox News.
The operation reportedly wiped out dozens of Russia’s high-value bomber jets and surveillance planes while they sat exposed on runways. Ukraine’s security service, the SBU, said President Volodymyr Zelensky personally oversaw the mission, which they claim took out 34% of Russia’s strategic bombers.
Ukraine used FPV drones concealed in wooden cabins mounted on trucks. Once the trucks reached Russian airfields, the roofs opened remotely and the drones launched. Videos circulating online showed drones taking off from parked vehicles and slamming into massive aircraft.
Zelensky celebrated the results in a statement on X, calling the mission "an absolutely brilliant result" that was achieved entirely by Ukraine. He revealed the timeline: "one year, six months, and nine days from the start of planning to effective execution.” He thanked SBU chief Vasyl Maliuk and noted that Ukrainian personnel were safely extracted from Russian territory after the strike.
Russia confirmed that five military airfields were attacked in Murmansk, Irkutsk, Ivanovo, Ryazan, and Amur. Moscow labeled the drone assault a "terrorist act" but acknowledged that several planes were damaged. Russian authorities claimed some suspects had been arrested.
The estimated damage from the strike varies. The SBU placed the cost at $7 billion, but other Ukrainian analysts suggested it may be closer to $2 billion. None of these figures have been independently confirmed.
Timing added more weight to the attack. It came just before scheduled peace talks between Ukraine and Russia were set to begin in Istanbul, supported by President Donald Trump. Ukraine is seeking a full ceasefire, the return of prisoners, and the repatriation of children taken to Russia — demands Moscow has yet to accept.
The White House confirmed that it was not notified about the operation beforehand. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth did not receive an immediate briefing but was later updated. A senior U.S. defense official said the Pentagon remains uncertain whether the drones were piloted or autonomous.
American intelligence officials expressed doubts over the claim that up to 50 bombers were hit. They believe the number is closer to 11 to 15 aircraft, but admit the strikes were sophisticated and spanned at least five Russian airfields.
Experts say the damage will limit Russia’s capacity for long-range missile strikes. Among the aircraft reportedly hit were TU-95 and TU-22M3 bombers, both of which have been used in previous attacks on Ukraine. Ukraine also said it damaged a Russian A