How Ukraine pulled off its stunning ‘Pearl Harbor' attack against Russia
Kyiv's secret services (SBU) stashed the attack drones inside the roofs of the sheds, which were loaded onto trucks that were driven to the perimeter of the air bases, Ukrainian authorities revealed in a statement shared on social media.
The roof panels were then lifted off by a remotely-activated device so the drones could fly out and enact their devastating attacks.
5 'Operation Spiderweb' Image showing mobile wooden cabin as it self destructs after launching dozens of drones hundreds of miles inside Russia.
5 This undated and unlocated handout picture, released on June 1, 2025 by the Security Service of Ukraine shows Ukrainian military drones.
SECURITY SERVICE OF UKRAINE/AFP via Getty Images
The dramatic and carefully planned Sunday assault took Russian President Vladimir Putin and his forces completely unaware.
Some 34% of Russia's Tu-95 bomber fleet, equipped to carry nuclear payloads, was reportedly wiped out in the raids on five air bases across the country, the SBU said on Sunday.
5 A view of a fire at the territory of an agrofirm after Ukrainian drones struck near Rylsk in the western Kursk region of Russia.
AP
A total of 41 Russian warplanes were hit in the strikes, causing an eye-watering $7 billion in damage, Ukrainian officials said.
5 'Operation Spiderweb' Images showing the drones used in the attack placed in the roofs of 'mobile wooden cabins' which were then being transported by truck when they were launched.
5 The map of the Ukraine drone attacks in Russia.
Donald Pearsall / NY Post Design
The attack, which involved strikes on bases some 4,000 miles from the Ukrainian border, has already been branded 'Russia's Pearl Harbor' by gloomy pro-Moscow military bloggers.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky praised the 'absolutely brilliant outcome' of his country's 'longest-range operation' to date, writing on the messaging app Telegram.
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