Ukraine’s boldest long-range drone attack to date has damaged or destroyed at least 13 Russian military aircraft, including nuclear-capable Tu-95 bombers, in a deep incursion into Siberian territory, satellite imagery and verified video show.

Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery confirmed significant damage to eight Tu-95 bombers at Belaya air base in Russia’s Irkutsk region, 5,500 km from Ukraine. These Cold War-era bombers, no longer in production, are key to Russia’s strategic arsenal and have been used to launch missile strikes into Ukraine.

Chris Biggers, a geospatial analyst, first posted the SAR images showing scorched tarmacs and scattered aircraft debris. "Russia may have just lost 10% of its Tu-95 fleet in one strike," noted defense expert Will Goodhind.

Olenya Air Base: Tu-95s and AN-12 Transport Damaged

Drone footage also confirmed damage to four Tu-95s and one AN-12 aircraft at Olenya air base near Murmansk. The footage captured heavy fires and explosions during the strike.

The Washington Post's analysis verified these events using drone video and satellite images, showing that the attacks penetrated deep into Russian territory—beyond the reach of most traditional battlefield drones.

Planning, Secrecy, and Stealth

Dubbed “Operation Spiderweb,” the strike involved drones smuggled into Russia months in advance. They were concealed inside trucks and beneath mobile homes, then remotely activated near key runways. The Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) coordinated the mission, according to government sources.

Open-source group Janes confirmed that at least three Tu-22s were also likely damaged at Belaya based on pre-strike satellite comparisons and observed fire zones.

Russia Denies Full Impact

Russia’s Ministry of Defense admitted fires occurred at two bases but claimed most attacks were repelled. No aircraft damage was acknowledged. However, satellite images from June 2 and 3 contradict that assertion.

Analysts say these losses could have a significant operational impact, especially given Russia's dwindling fleet of long-range bombers.