Ukraine Launches Unprecedented Drone Strikes on Russian Airbases

On June 1st, 2025, a series of coordinated drone strikes targeted multiple Russian military airbases, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict. The attacks, claimed by Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) and dubbed "Spider's Web," reportedly caused substantial damage to Russian aircraft and infrastructure. Footage from various news sources, including the Wall Street Journal, shows explosions and fires at several locations, including the Belaya airbase in Irkutsk and the Olenya airbase in Murmansk. The distances involved suggest an unprecedented range for Ukrainian strikes. An SBU source, speaking to NBC News, described the operation as taking more than a year and a half to plan, involving drones hidden in mobile wooden cabins. The timing of the attack, just before scheduled peace talks in Istanbul, adds further complexity to the situation. While the SBU claimed significant damage, these figures have not yet been independently verified. The event underscores the evolving nature of the conflict and the continued use of advanced drone technology.