Operation Spider’s Web: General Staff Adds 12 Russian Aircraft to Destroyed List

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has updated its daily report on Russian losses in the ongoing conflict, increasing the number of destroyed enemy aircraft by 12 units.

This update was announced via the General Staff’s official social media channels.

The aviation loss figures were revised for the first time following the Ukrainian special forces’ Operation Spider’s Web, conducted on Russian territory.

According to the data, the total number of destroyed Russian aircraft since the beginning of the full-scale invasion has increased to 384 aircraft.

The Security Service of Ukraine’s Operation Spider’s Web aimed to destroy Russian strategic aviation aircraft and involved strikes on the military air bases of Belaya, Ivanovo, Ukrainka, Olenya, and Dyagilevo.

On June 1, Ukrainian FPV kamikaze drones struck Russian strategic aviation at their bases located at the Olenya air base in the Murmansk region and the Belaya air base in the Irkutsk region. This day was dubbed a new Tsushima for Russian aviation on social media.

On the same day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in his address, shared key details of the operation, including that the operation’s “office” on Russian territory was located near the FSS headquarters.

As a result, the President reported the destruction of 34% of the strategic cruise missile carriers at their air bases, primarily Tu-95MS and Tu-22M3 aircraft.

The operation, from initial planning to execution, lasted 1 year, 6 months, and 9 days, meaning it began on November 23, 2023.

Militarnyi analyzed the aircraft fleet and examined the first satellite images following the strikes.

The day after the Ukrainian special forces operation, a campaign of mass inspections of trucks started in Russia to check for possible drone transportation. Residents of the Irkutsk region reported multi-kilometer traffic jams caused by police checks of freight trucks.

Results

The loss of Tu-95MS and Tu-22M3 aircraft is a significant blow to the capabilities of the Russian Aerospace Forces, as these models are no longer in production. Furthermore, the reduction in the number of these bombers will create gaps in the air component of Russia’s nuclear deterrence and may decrease the frequency of sorties targeting Ukrainian territory.