Today's News: Ukrainian Drones Attack Airbases Deep Within Russia

The attack, reportedly over 18 months in planning, damaged or destroyed more than 40 Russian aircraft, including strategic bombers and surveillance planes.

Photo: Governor of Irkutsk Region Igor Kobzev via Reuters

Overview

• Date: June 1, 2025

• Topic: Ukraine Conducts Deep-Strike Drone Assault on Russian Airbases

• Summary: Ukraine launched a coordinated long-range drone operation, dubbed “Spiderweb,” targeting at least four Russian airbases deep inside Russian territory. The attack, reportedly over 18 months in planning, damaged or destroyed more than 40 Russian aircraft, including strategic bombers and surveillance planes. Using drones launched from hidden truck-mounted containers inside Russia, the operation marks a major escalation in Ukraine’s offensive capabilities and was praised by Ukrainian leadership as a historic success. Russia acknowledged damage at several sites but downplayed the scale. The strikes preceded peace talks scheduled in Istanbul, raising tensions amid parallel Russian assaults and suspected sabotage events inside Russia.

Sources

• The New York Times – Ukraine Drone Strike Targets Russian Air Bases in Large-Scale Attack

• CNN – Ukraine targets several Russian airbases in large-scale operation ‘Spiderweb’

• NBC News – Ukraine claims massive drone strike on Russian bombers in 'Spiderweb' operation

• Fox News – Ukrainian forces destroy 40 Russian warplanes in massive drone attack

• The Washington Post – Ukraine launches wide-ranging drone attack against Russia

• The Wall Street Journal – Ukraine Says It Destroyed Dozens of Warplanes Deep Inside Russia

Key Points

• Ukraine’s SBU led the “Spiderweb” operation, using drones launched from within Russian territory.

• The attacks struck airbases including Belaya, Olenya, Dyagilevo, and Ivanovo, damaging over 40 aircraft.

• Aircraft hit reportedly include TU-95, TU-22M3 bombers, and A-50 surveillance planes.

• Ukrainian officials claim the strike damaged up to 34% of Russia’s strategic cruise missile carriers.

• The drones were concealed in truck-mounted cabins and launched via remote activation.

• Russia confirmed airbase attacks but minimized losses, describing incidents as “terrorist acts.”

• The operation preceded renewed peace talks in Istanbul, adding pressure to ongoing negotiations.

• A Russian missile strike the same day killed 12 Ukrainian soldiers and wounded dozens.

• The Ukrainian attack was coordinated with no prior notification to the U.S. administration.

Unique Highlights

• The New York Times reported the use of verified drone footage showing drones launching less than four miles from the Belaya base, and noted a Ukrainian general resigned after Russia’s deadly missile strike on a Ukrainian training base.

• CNN included damage estimates of $7 billion and stated the operation struck 34% of Russia’s cruise missile carriers.

• NBC News emphasized footage allegedly showing explosions at Belaya and reported an estimated $2 billion in damage.

• Fox News noted the U.S. administration was not informed beforehand and highlighted statements from Zelenskyy asserting Ukraine’s sovereignty and resolve.

• The Washington Post covered intense domestic Russian reaction, citing bloggers calling it “Russia’s Pearl Harbor” and calling for nuclear retaliation.

• The Wall Street Journal cited expert analysis from RUSI and ISW, describing the attack as a crippling blow to Russia’s bomber fleet and long-range airstrike capacity.

Contrasting Details

• Damage Estimates: CNN cited $7 billion in losses; NBC News reported $2 billion.

• Number of Airfields Attacked: Russia claimed five; Ukraine said four (Washington Post).

• Scope of Aircraft Destroyed: All articles agree on 40+ aircraft, but details differ — The Wall Street Journal and NBC note specific aircraft models; Fox News adds Tu-95s, Tu-22s, and A-50s.

• Official Attribution: CNN, The Wall Street Journal, and NBC emphasize SBU’s role; The New York Times focuses on Zelenskyy’s leadership.

• Public Response in Russia: Only The Washington Post reports on Russian pro-war bloggers' backlash and nuclear rhetoric.

• Zelenskyy’s Address: Covered in all sources, but only The Wall Street Journal highlights his claim that drones were launched near an FSB office.

---

The Newsie Project uses AI to summarize, compare, and contrast the reporting of the major US and world online news sources.

This is an evolving project. Tools, approaches, and output formats will change over time. The Newsie Project does not attempt to provide a definitive capsule of any news story. While the incidence of errors in these summaries is low, and I attempt to spot-check details, AI tools can hallucinate. Please click through and read the articles for details (some may be paywalled).