Ukraine launched an audacious and highly coordinated drone offensive on June 1 that penetrated deep into Russian territory, inflicting what Ukrainian officials claim is the most significant blow to Russia’s air force since the start of the full-scale invasion three years ago. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the operation as his country’s “longest-range operation,” showcasing Kyiv’s evolving strategy of asymmetric warfare against its larger neighbor.
The attack, codenamed “Spider’s Web” by Ukrainian intelligence, involved the deployment of 117 explosive-laden drones, which were smuggled into Russian territory and concealed inside the roofs of wooden sheds. Once in place, the drones were remotely activated to swarm military airfields across four regions, from the Finnish border to Siberia. Some bases targeted lay as far as 2,600 miles from the front lines, illustrating Ukraine’s expanding reach and its ability to strike targets deep inside Russian territory.
Ukrainian intelligence services estimate that the strikes destroyed or severely damaged 41 Russian aircraft, including strategic bombers capable of carrying nuclear warheads, causing approximately $7 billion in damage to Russia’s military assets. Russian war bloggers and pro-Kremlin commentators on Telegram described the strike as Moscow’s Pearl Harbor, with one blogger writing that Russia’s response should be “as tough as the US response to Pearl Harbor, or even tougher.” Another pro-Kremlin channel, Rybar, grimly noted that “it is impossible to restore these losses,” underlining the scale of the damage.
The drone strike highlights Ukraine’s innovative use of low-cost, high-volume technology to challenge Russia’s traditional military advantage. Oksana Markarova, Ukraine’s ambassador to the United States, described the attack as “the best example of how innovation can and should work in defense,” reflecting Ukraine’s ongoing efforts to harness technology to offset Russia’s larger arsenal and manpower.
Russia’s defense ministry acknowledged that drones launched from areas near military airfields caused several aircraft to catch fire, a rare admission that highlights the effectiveness of the Ukrainian assault. This strike came just hours after Russia itself launched its largest drone attack on Ukraine since the war began, using 472 drones and seven missiles overnight. Ukraine’s air force claimed to have intercepted 372 drones and three missiles, though the scale of Russia’s attack underscored the continued intensity of the conflict.
Separately, on the same day, Ukraine struck two highway bridges in Russian border regions, resulting in seven deaths and 69 injuries, according to Russian officials. One of the bridges collapsed under a train carrying nearly 400 passengers bound for Moscow, demonstrating the growing impact of the war on Russian civilians and infrastructure.
The drone offensive also took place just before U.S.-mediated peace talks between Ukraine and Russia in Istanbul, highlighting the challenges of pursuing a diplomatic solution while both sides continue to escalate their military operations. President Donald Trump, who had previously clashed with Zelenskyy over ceasefire negotiations earlier this year, has recently shifted his criticism toward Russian President Vladimir Putin. Following Russia’s recent barrage of drones and missiles into Ukrainian cities, which killed at least a dozen people, Trump posted on May 25 that Putin had “gone absolutely CRAZY,” expressing his frustration that civilians were killed amid attempts at negotiation.
In a subsequent statement from the Oval Office, Trump said he was “very disappointed” that “people were killed in the middle of what you would call a negotiation.” His remarks underscore the tense diplomatic landscape as both sides appear entrenched in their positions, with military operations continuing to dominate the conflict’s trajectory.
The scale of the Ukrainian drone offensive marks a significant escalation in Kyiv’s efforts to weaken Russia’s strategic air power, sending a clear message that Ukraine will continue to pressure Moscow militarily while diplomatic efforts proceed. The use of drones to inflict heavy losses on Russian aircraft highlights Ukraine’s innovative tactics and its determination to sustain its defense, even as the conflict shows no sign of abating. As the international community watches closely, the next steps taken by both sides—and their allies—could determine whether this war edges closer to resolution or descends further into stalemate.
