Operation Spider Web is a game changer, the Kremlin is furious - WP
Date: 2025-06-03 Author: Кирило Загоруйко Categories: WAR
Drones attacked the heart of Russian aviation - bases with strategic bombers capable of carrying nuclear weapons. It was one of the most daring operations during the full-scale war, writes The Washington Post.
Dozens of aircraft were destroyed, including A-50, Tu-95, Tu-22M3 and Tu-160 models - strategic bombers that were used for night attacks on Ukraine.
"This operation completely changes the perception of reality - both in Russia and around the world. Our enemies are now forced to admit that Ukrainian intelligence services are capable of penetrating even the most protected facilities," said MP and military officer Roman Kostenko.
Analysts note that this strike significantly weakens Russia's ability to launch cruise missiles at Ukraine, forcing Moscow to shift resources to protecting its aviation. However, as Western experts note, Russia still has enough aircraft to continue the strikes.
Former Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov recalled that Ukraine once transferred these bombers to Russia as part of the nuclear disarmament agreement.
"On June 1, 2025, Ukraine began to seize these very aircraft from one of the main guarantors of the memorandum," he said, calling it "a form of military-legal sanctions."
One of the former Ukrainian officials described the strike as a "huge push" for society and soldiers, which strengthens Kyiv's position against any compromise with Moscow:
"We are less inclined to compromise in the near future. And some form of compromise seems to be the only way to stop or pause the war."
Nevertheless, he added, the attack had dramatically improved the SBU's reputation and "deserves to be described in history books." Russian political scientist Vladimir Pastukhov believes that Putin has reached a dead end: "There are no comparable objects in Ukraine that can be destroyed without hellish civilian casualties."
