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Time of India
17 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Operation Spiderweb shows how small $400 drones deliver big blows to Russia's $7 billion fighter jets
On 1 June, Ukraine launched Operation Spiderweb, a daring drone offensive deep into Russian territory, disabling over 40 high-value military aircraft. Using cheap, first-person-view (FPV) drones smuggled into Russia and launched from hidden truck compartments, Kyiv inflicted billions in damages—at a fraction of the cost. The attack not only exposed critical gaps in Russia's defences but also signalled a shift in global warfare. With each drone costing under $1,000, the future of expensive fighter jets like the F-35 may be in question. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Operation Spiderweb: Targets spanned five time zones Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Drones vs F-35 jets: An inflection point in modern warfare Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Drones are changing the battlefield faster than strategy can keep up Russia's layered air defences proved inadequate A war of drones, not jets Heavy bomber losses and strategic risk Nuclear proximity raises global concerns Ukraine struck at the heart of Russia's air power on 1 June in one of its most daring operations of the war—codenamed Operation Spiderweb . Over 100 low-cost, first-person-view (FPV) drones hit air bases in five Russian regions, damaging at least 41 military aircraft including Tu-95, Tu-22M, and A-50 strategic to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the 'brilliant' strike had been under development for 18 months. In his nightly address, he said, 'It took one year, six months, and nine days from the start of planning to effective execution.'Zelenskyy also revealed that the operation was run from an office near the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) headquarters. A Ukrainian military source described it as 'extremely complex', involving the smuggling of drones hidden inside wooden mobile houses mounted on trucks.'Later, drones were hidden under the roofs of these houses while already placed on trucks. At the right moment, the roofs of the houses were remotely opened, and the drones flew to hit Russian bombers,' the source Defence Ministry confirmed the strikes occurred across five regions: Murmansk, Irkutsk, Ivanovo, Ryazan , and Amur. These locations span more than 7,000 kilometres—underscoring the depth of Ukraine's social media showed video clips of drones rising from containers and men attempting to interfere with their launch. Satellite imagery later revealed severe damage to aircraft stationed at these sites. At Irkutsk's Belaya air base, multiple Tu-22M3 bombers were seen official response downplayed the scale, labelling the attack 'a terrorist act'. However, Russian military bloggers admitted the operation had seriously weakened Russia's long-range air Olenya Air Base in the Murmansk region, footage shared by Russian air defence personnel showed multiple Tu-95MS bombers ablaze. Unverified but credible reports suggest two Tu-95MS aircraft were destroyed and two others damaged, along with one An-12 Cub transport aircraft. Olenya, on the Kola Peninsula, is home to the 40th Composite Aviation Regiment, which operates Tu-22M3 strike at Belaya Air Base near Irkutsk may have been even more damaging. Satellite images analysed by defence observers indicate that at least three Tu-95MS bombers were destroyed, with another possibly damaged, and as many as four Tu-22M3s attacks were reported at Dyagilevo and Ivanovo air bases. Dyagilevo, in Ryazan, is a known training centre for Russia's Long-Range Aviation fleet. Ivanovo, located northeast of Moscow, hosts Russia's A-50 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft, though most are currently forward deployed. The A-50s play a critical role in Russia's air defence confirmed attacks in the Murmansk, Irkutsk, Ryazan, Ivanovo, and Amur regions. The Ministry of Defence admitted that 'several' aircraft were set ablaze in Murmansk and Irkutsk, effectively confirming that Olenya and Belaya were hit.A separate incident in the Amur region, near Ukrainka Air Base, may have involved a truck filled with drones. Videos from the scene show the vehicle burning before reaching its intended most striking aspect of Operation Spiderweb lies in its cost-efficiency. While each F-35 fighter jet costs upwards of $80 million, Ukraine reportedly used drones worth as little as $500 to disable aircraft collectively valued at over $7 according to defence analysts, reflects a broader shift in warfare—where tactical innovation can now outweigh brute force and expensive Musk, CEO of SpaceX and former adviser to Donald Trump on federal spending, criticised continued reliance on manned fighter jets. In a pointed post, Musk wrote, 'Manned fighter jets are obsolete in the age of drones anyway. Will just get pilots killed.'Musk's remarks came shortly before Trump proposed selling F-35s to India—an offer that New Delhi has not yet accepted. Instead, the Indian government has focused on expanding its domestic drone aerial vehicles ( UAVs ) have been used in war since the early 20th century. But Ukraine has scaled up their use to an unprecedented degree. Nearly every Ukrainian brigade now has a drone unit, using small UAVs for both reconnaissance and direct this year, Ukraine aimed to manufacture one million FPV drones. By October, Zelenskyy claimed the nation could produce up to 4 million drones, flown manually by operators, have proven capable of tracking and striking moving targets with high accuracy. Though their payloads are limited compared to traditional artillery, their precision and accessibility make them a key tool in Ukraine's unlike jets that require air superiority, refuelling tankers, or satellite support, these drones can be launched from the back of a its vast geography and heavily fortified bases, Russia was unable to stop the drone offensive. The slow-flying, low-altitude drones reportedly evaded radar by launching from inside Russia—essentially bypassing perimeter detection strike exposed vulnerabilities at airfields like Engels, Belaya, and Olenya—once thought to be secure. These bases lacked proper counter-drone defences, especially systems to detect low-tech, loitering munitions launched from ground bloggers, usually quick to defend Russian forces, acknowledged the attack's effectiveness. Some even questioned why key aircraft had not been moved, despite the high alert following Russia's own massive drone barrage against Ukraine on 31 to Ukrainian military estimates, the attacks destroyed around 40 aircraft, causing damage worth approximately $7 billion. That figure is difficult to confirm due to the unknown extent of damage and the age of the aircraft, many of which are no longer in drones were once viewed as a supplementary technology, Ukraine has turned them into frontline assets. Countries like China, Türkiye, and Israel dominate the drone export market. Yet Ukraine has demonstrated that domestic production, tactical creativity, and minimal resources can produce strategic India, similar trends are visible. During May's Operation Sindoor, India deployed homegrown kamikaze drones like SkyStriker and Nagastra-1. Developed by Bengaluru-based Alpha Design Technologies in partnership with Israel's Elbit Systems, SkyStriker drones were used for precision strikes. Surveillance was carried out using Hawk drones from Zuppa Geo Navigation Ulrike Franke of the European Council on Foreign Relations put it, mass production and affordability can compensate for the lack of high-end features—if employed bombers targeted in these strikes—particularly the Tu-95MS and Tu-22M3—form the backbone of Russia's strategic airstrike capability. Most were built during the Cold War, and Russia lacks the industrial capacity to replace them at Tu-95MS, or Bear-H, is a four-engine turboprop bomber designed in the 1950s and updated through the 1980s to carry cruise missiles. Russia entered the war with fewer than 50 Tu-95MS bombers. If reports of five confirmed losses are accurate, it would mark a 10% reduction in the fleet—a major operational Tu-22M3, known as the Backfire, is a swing-wing bomber capable of delivering free-fall bombs and long-range missiles. While more numerous, its upgrade programme has been slow. Russia began the war with around 60 Tu-22M3s, but has suffered further attrition since is no confirmation yet that any Tu-160 Blackjacks—the most modern and valuable Russian bombers—were destroyed. But even limited losses across all three strategic bomber types would stretch Russia's capacity to sustain long-range Tu-160, Russia's most advanced bomber, is being slowly supplemented by new-build Tu-160Ms. Each of these is valued at over $270 million, though Russian expert Piotr Butowski believes the cost is likely 'underestimated,' and said, 'in the current circumstances, I would add another 50 percent.'The Tu-160M, he added, 'is the only aircraft that is currently in production, so its price can be estimated.' By contrast, estimating the cost of the Tu-95MS is difficult: 'How to estimate the price of the Tu-95MS, which has not been produced for 30-plus years and has no replacement? Its value to the Russian air force is greater than money.'While Russia has plans to build up to 50 new Tu-160Ms, only a few prototypes have been completed, and none are in frontline service. Even if construction ramps up, these bombers cannot be produced final element of Operation Spiderweb has heightened international attention: the drones struck strategic bombers capable of carrying nuclear no nuclear command facilities or warheads were targeted, the attack on platforms like the Tu-95 sent an unmissable message. For Russia, these bombers are a core element of its nuclear deterrence drone attacks appear to have dealt a rare, large-scale blow to the most flexible leg of Russia's nuclear triad. The long-range bombers are not just used to launch cruise missiles into Ukraine, but are part of Moscow's strategic nuclear deterrent, regularly patrolling regions as distant as the Arctic, Europe, and even the attacks may not yet provoke a strategic escalation, but they mark a serious dent in Russia's deterrence credibility. Moscow has repeatedly stated that strikes on strategic military assets could cross a 'red line.' Yet, similar attacks have taken place over the past two years, albeit none on this even a fraction of the reported damage proves accurate, Ukraine's latest drone operation could reshape the long-term trajectory of Russia's air war—simply because these ageing aircraft cannot be without an escalation, the implications are serious. If such assets can be hit by cheap drones, it raises fresh questions about deterrence credibility and strategic stability.(with inputs from NYT , agencies)
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Russian FSB kidnaps Ukrainian in occupied Crimea
Ukrainian citizen Serhii Hrishchenkov has disappeared in the temporarily occupied city of Sevastopol (Crimea). He was detained and taken away in an unknown direction by people who identified themselves as Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) officers. Source: Dmytro Lubinets, Ukrainian Parliamentary Human Rights Commissioner Details: Lubinets said that he was contacted by Hrishchenkov's daughter. The detention took place on the night of 6-7 May, and there is still no information about Hrishchenkov's fate or whereabouts. Quote: "These are not isolated cases on the territory of the temporarily occupied peninsula, where people are basically being kidnapped by unknown individuals posing as employees of the Russian Federal Security Service." Serhii Hrishchenkov. Photo: Lubinets Details: Lubinets stressed that such actions are a gross violation of international law, in particular the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights: Articles 9.2, 9.4 and 14.2 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; Articles 5.2 and 5.3 of the European Convention on Human Rights. These documents guarantee detainees and their families the right to receive information about the grounds for detention, their legal status and place of detention. Dmytro Lubinets has already appealed to Tatyana Moskalkova, Human Rights Commissioner of the Russian Federation, demanding that she provide objective information about Hrishchenko's status and whereabouts. Quote: "This case involving a Ukrainian citizen once again demonstrates the inability of the occupation administration to ensure the implementation of international civil and political rights for residents of the temporarily occupied territories of Crimea. Cynicism and human rights violations have become commonplace for thousands of Ukrainian citizens!" Background: On 18 May, the Mejlis (parliament) of the Crimean Tatar People stated that Russia's current policy in occupied Crimea is a direct continuation of Soviet genocidal practices. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Saba Yemen
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Saba Yemen
Russia Announces Foiling Ukrainian Attack
Moscow - Saba: The Russian Federal Security Service in the Donetsk People's Republic announced on Friday that it had foiled a Ukrainian attack using four drones targeting the Zuevskaya Thermal Power Plant in the republic. The Russian Federal Security Service stated in a statement reported by Russia Today, "Four Ukrainian-made Raybird-3 and Borodavshnik attack drones were simultaneously intercepted by the Donbas Dome system." Whatsapp Telegram Email Print more of (International)
The Star
20-05-2025
- The Star
Russia's FSB seizes over 1.8 tonnes of cocaine in drug busts
MOSCOW, May 20 (Xinhua) - The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) has intercepted two separate shipments of cocaine totaling over 1.8 tonnes, the FSB said in a statement Tuesday. The FSB carried out two operations in March and April, seizing 1,100 kg and 725 kg of cocaine, respectively. The drugs had been smuggled into Russia from South America and were intended for shipment to European countries, the agency said. Four people were arrested following the raids, involving a Ukrainian citizen and his accomplice, who had received Russian citizenship in 2022, and two nationals from South America. The seized drugs, worth 6 billion rubles (around 74.3 million U.S. dollars) were also partly intended for distribution within Russia, according to the FSB.
Saba Yemen
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Saba Yemen
FSB Thwarts Series of Attacks on Police Officers
Moscow - (Saba): The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) announced that it had thwarted a series of attacks on police officers in the Stavropol Territory, which were planned for May 9 by a group of minors supporting an international terrorist organization. The Russian news agency TASS quoted the Russian intelligence service as saying in a statement: "Russian Federal Security Service officers, in cooperation with the Investigative Committee and the Ministry of Interior, were able to prevent a series of terrorist crimes in the Stavropol Territory in southern Russia. During the security operation, nine local residents who supported an international terrorist organization were detained." The statement indicated that one of the minors voluntarily joined the organization through social media in 2024 and later recruited eight other residents of the region, seven of whom were minors. According to the statement, "On May 9 of this year, the criminals planned to attack police officers during the celebration of the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War in one of the municipalities of the Stavropol Territory. However, they were unable to carry out their plans because security forces uncovered their plot and arrested them." They are currently being investigated after being charged under Part 2 of Article 205.5 (organizing the activities of a terrorist organization and participating in the activities of such an organization) and Part 1.1 of Article 205.1 (assisting terrorist activity) of the Russian Criminal Code. Russian Investigative Committee spokeswoman Svetlana Petrenko told TASS that the investigation established that one of the minors joined the ranks of a terrorist organization in 2024. He then "used persuasion to recruit a relative and seven of his peers between the ages of 14 and 16 to join this terrorist organization." Whatsapp Telegram Email Print more of (International)
