Ukrainian security forces carried out a significant drone strike on Russian military airfields on Sunday, reaching thousands of kilometers beyond the front lines. President Volodymyr Zelensky described this operation as the longest-range mission to date.

Called “Spider’s Web,” the operation involved extensive planning over several months, including the covert transport of drones into Russian territory.

Here are the key details about these attacks, which coincided with upcoming discussions in Istanbul between Russia and Ukraine aimed at exploring ceasefire options:

Ukraine claims to have inflicted considerable damage, though the actual extent of the destruction remains difficult to independently verify.

A source from Ukraine’s SBU security service reported that the coordinated strikes targeted 41 aircraft involved in bombing Ukrainian cities, specifically mentioning the Tu-95 and Tu-22 strategic bombers as well as the A-50 command and radar plane.

If confirmed, the most significant gain for Kyiv would be damage to an A-50, a crucial aircraft for coordinating Russian fighter jets and detecting Ukrainian air defense systems.

There are believed to be fewer than ten of these aircraft in operation. This would mark the third A-50 lost by Russia since the onset of the full-scale invasion, following two others downed by Ukrainian surface-to-air missiles in early 2024.

Russia no longer manufactures the Tu-95MS or Tu-22M3 bombers that are believed to have been targeted in the strikes. Together with the Tu-160, these long-range bombers can carry 16 cruise missiles that can travel over 2,000 kilometers.

The missiles present a significant challenge to Ukrainian air defenses, which failed to intercept any of the nine missiles launched against Ukraine on the night of May 24. Due to their high speed and maneuverability, these missiles can only be effectively shot down by systems like the U.S.-made Patriot or Franco-Italian SAMP-T.

Ukraine is running low on SAMP-T missiles, and Kyiv has requested additional Patriot missiles from Washington, which Secretary of State Marco Rubio noted the U.S. does not currently have in sufficient supply.

Ukrainian intelligence is believed to have launched 117 attack drones from trucks positioned near Russian airbases. Initial images have already begun to emerge from the operation, showcasing a significant achievement in what was a well-coordinated effort.

The U.S. is urging other nations to supply Ukraine with Patriot missile systems. On May 10, the U.S. authorized Germany to send 100 missiles from its own reserves.

However, many European nations are hesitant to relinquish equipment that may be necessary for their own defenses and cannot be easily replaced. Raytheon, the missile manufacturer, can only produce 12 Patriot batteries annually, along with 740 interceptor missiles when combined with Lockheed Martin’s production.

Russia’s Defense Ministry acknowledged that multiple aircraft were damaged in drone strikes at bases located in the Murmansk region of the Russian Arctic and Irkutsk in eastern Siberia.

The ministry reported that the fires were contained, resulting in no casualties, and suggested that suspects had been detained.

Ukrainian security forces stated that they successfully destroyed 34% of Russia’s strategic bombers equipped with cruise missiles, claiming to have inflicted damage estimated at $7 billion.

The “Spider’s Web” operation had been in preparation for over 18 months, according to the source from the Ukrainian SBU, who highlighted the logistical complexities involved.

Although Ukraine consistently targets Russian sites in retaliation for the 2022 invasion, the tactics used this time were notably different.

The Ukrainian source indicated that the drones were smuggled into Russia and concealed within wooden structures mounted on trucks, which were opened remotely to allow the drones to launch toward their objectives.

Photos shared by the SBU depict numerous small dark drones hidden in what seem to be transport containers.

Russia’s Defense Ministry confirmed that the drones were not launched from Ukrainian soil but from a location close to the airbases.

Zelensky praised the operation’s “brilliant” outcomes, noting that it represented Ukraine’s most extended mission in more than three years of conflict.

By deploying 117 drones, Ukraine was able to strike regions far from the front lines, contrasting with its usual focus on targets closer to its borders.

Two of the airbases reportedly hit, Olenya and Belaya, are approximately 1,900 kilometers and 4,300 kilometers from Ukraine, respectively, with Olenya located in the Russian Arctic and Belaya in eastern Siberia.

The Russian Defense Ministry claimed to have successfully intercepted other attacks in the Ivanovo and Ryazan regions, as well as in Amur near the Chinese border.

The implications of the drone strikes on Russian military capabilities are difficult to assess at this point.

Ukraine continues to endure regular air assaults that have challenged its air defense systems in recent weeks.

Russian military bloggers lamented it as a “dark day for aviation” following the Ukrainian assaults.

Rybar, a Telegram channel affiliated with the Russian military, referred to it as a “severe blow,” pointing to what it described as “serious mistakes” by Russian intelligence.

Pasi Paroinen, a military analyst from the Finnish Black Bird Group OSINT service, remarked that the success of the attack indicated that Russia failed to fortify its airbases against aerial assaults, such as by building reinforced hangars.

The timing of the attacks adds to their significance for Ukraine’s military, which has been facing challenges on the frontlines.

Katarzyna Zysk, a professor of international relations and contemporary history at the Norwegian Defense Academy, emphasized that Ukraine recognizes that leveraging strength is essential to compel Putin to engage in meaningful negotiations.

Zysk explained to The Moscow Times that when Russia was gaining ground, negotiations were often dismissed, underscoring the importance of exposing Russian vulnerabilities to shift the dynamics of future talks.

This operation also demonstrates Ukraine’s capability to neutralize valuable Russian military assets, a factor that may have more impact on influencing Russia toward peace talks than prior diplomatic strategies.

Dan Lomas, a senior lecturer in intelligence and security studies at the University of Nottingham, suggested that the events would create a sense of paranoia within Russia’s security agencies.

“Ukraine’s intelligence capabilities convey a message of where they can strike within Russia, which is unsettling for the FSB and other internal security forces,” he said.

“While Ukraine can choose from a vast array of potential targets, the FSB must achieve consistent success in protecting important assets. The psychological impact for the FSB raises concerns about what will happen next.”

This report contains contributions from AFP.