Latest news with #UkrainianOperatives
Daily Mail
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Russia moves its $500million planes to a remote base as far away from Ukraine as possible after drone attacks destroyed fleets across different airfields
Russia has hidden two of its most valuable warplanes in a remote airbase just days after a stunning Ukrainian drone strike wreaked havoc on its elite bomber fleet. Satellite images have revealed that the pair of supersonic Tu-160 strategic bombers - each carrying a $500million price tag - have been relocated more than 4,000 miles from the warfront to Anadyr, an isolated Cold War-era airfield nestled on the desolate Chukotka Peninsula. The dramatic retreat comes after Ukraine's spy agency, the SBU, pulled off what has been dubbed Operation Spider's Web on June 1. It was a meticulously choreographed drone blitz that reportedly damaged several of Moscow 's rare strategic bombers - aircraft capable of carrying nuclear weapons and critical to Russia's long-range strike capability. In a slickly produced video released by the SBU, the daring mission was laid bare. Cheap drones were smuggled into Russia in modified wooden cabins strapped to the backs of lorries, driven by unsuspecting civilians. The drones were reportedly piloted by Ukrainian operatives housed in a building close to an office of Russia's FSB security service and successfully evaded detection in a scathing indictment of Russia's intelligence apparatus. The drones were released near their targets and struck military airfields in a synchronised assault across three time zones, involving a staggering 117 drones. Pictured: Russian Tu-160 strategic bomber takes off for patrol flight over the Arctic Sea at unidentified location in an image taken from video released January 17, 2023 The plan, which had been 18 months in the making and overseen by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, targeted five airfields, but only four were hit. One drone convoy reportedly suffered a premature explosion en route to a site in Russia's Far East. Despite Kremlin denials, military experts believe the damage is severe. Sources inside Ukraine's SBU security service claimed the operation crippled 34 per cent of Russia's long-range strategic bombers, including the nuclear-capable Tu-95s and Tu-22M3s, often used to launch cruise missiles into Ukraine. These planes, however, are no longer manufactured, and so cannot be replaced. Footage showed decimated enemy planes in flames on the runway and Ukrainian security sources claimed to have taken out 41 aircraft worth some £1.5billion. In drone footage, several Russian planes were seen erupting in a blaze as they soared over the Russian aircrafts. As they continued their journey, the drones blasted the planes stationed ahead, sending them into a ball of fire. Separate images revealed the destruction as plumes of black clouds billowed into the sky behind buildings as the attack was carried out. Footage appeared to show black smoke at the scene on the Kola Peninsula following explosions at the secret base. Analysts have said the relocation of the Tu-160s is a clear sign that Moscow fears further precision strikes. Professor Justin Bronk, a senior research fellow for air power at the Royal United Services Institute, told the i newspaper that imagery from the Anadyr base could suggest Moscow was trying to reduce the risk of more drone attacks. But while the American B-52 Stratofortress costs around $94million, the Russian Tu-160 dwarfs that figure at over five times the price. Only 16 Tu-160s are believed to be operational, and the Kremlin has managed to assemble just two new ones since 2022, despite promises of more. Western officials were quick to praise Ukraine's bold strike on June 1. Admiral Pierre Vandier, NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, compared the raid to a 'reinvention of the Trojan Horse', with new 'technical and industrial creativity'. Still, Russia is trying to project calm. Deputy Foreign Miister Sergei Ryabkov insisted on Wednesday that the country's nuclear deterrence remains intact and that all damaged bombers 'can and will be restored'. Experts, however, say repairs could take years - if not longer - raising serious questions about Russia's ability to project air power in the coming months. Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials claim that Moscow's decision to launch a recent cruise missile attack using a Tu-160, which are normally reserved for only the most strategic missions, signals a potential shortfall in available Tu-95s and Tu-22s. Operation Spiderweb was 18 months in the making and under the control of Vasyl Malyuk, the head of the Ukrainian security service, the SBU. Zelensky also noted its symbolic timing as the operation came exactly 29 years after Ukraine handed over its own strategic bombers to Russia as part of the ill-fated Budapest Memorandum, under which Moscow promised never to attack its neighbour. 'We can say with confidence that this is an absolutely unique operation,' he said in statement on social media, revealing that 117 drones were used to target bombers 'used to fire at our cities.' 'What's most interesting, is that the 'office' of our operation on Russian territory was located directly next to FSB headquarters in one of their regions,' he added. 'In total, 117 drones were used in the operation, with a corresponding number of drone operators involved, and 34 per cent of the strategic cruise missile carriers stationed at air bases were hit. We will continue this work.'
Russia Today
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Terrorist plot foiled in Russia's Kaliningrad
Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) has announced the arrest of a suspect who allegedly planned to carry out a terrorist attack on a Victory Day parade in the western exclave of Kaliningrad on May 9. According to a press release by the agency on Friday, the 25-year-old voluntarily joined a terrorist organization and intended to detonate an explosive device on the route of a parade column of military personnel. The orders were reportedly given to the suspect by a Ukrainian on the messenger Telegram, as confirmed by his correspondence with an alleged member of the organization. The suspect has now been arrested and faces up to 20 years in prison on charges of assisting terrorist activity and assisting sabotage. A video published by the FSB along with the press release shows security personnel arresting the suspect, as well as his confession. In the clip, the detained man admitted that in April he had contacted a person located in Ukraine and was given the task of surveilling the parade rehearsal at Victory Square in Kaliningrad. On May 5, several days before the parade, the suspect said he had taken pictures of where people and military equipment were gathered, for which he received $150 in cryptocurrency. The Ukrainian then allegedly instructed the man to place an explosive device and promised him a $205,000 reward. The alleged terrorist plot is one of several that were reportedly planned by Ukrainian operatives ahead of Victory Day celebrations in Russia earlier this month. On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin also informed his US counterpart Donald Trump that Russia's security services had foiled several terrorist attacks near the Kremlin and Red Square in Moscow ahead of the May 9 events. According to presidential aide Yury Ushakov, the Russian leader told Trump that Ukraine had 'directly threatened foreign participants in the [Victory Day] festivities [and] attempted to... prevent their arrival in Moscow.' Previously, Ukraine's Vladimir Zelensky had stated that Kiev could not guarantee the safety of foreign officials visiting the Russian capital. This warning was followed by more than 500 kamikaze drones and UK-supplied Storm Shadow cruise missiles being launched by Ukraine's forces targeting multiple Russian regions, including the capital. Putin reportedly told Trump that the 'masterminds behind those threats [are] those who celebrate Nazi criminals,' according to Ushakov.
