### Ukraine's Daring Drone Strike Damages Russian Aircraft, Analysis Reveals

A detailed analysis of videos and satellite images conducted by The Washington Post has revealed the extent of the damage inflicted by Ukraine following a bold drone strike on Sunday targeting military bases in Russia. The assessment found that at least 13 aircraft were compromised, with eight of them being Tu-95 bombers, according to geospatial analyst Will Goodhind from the Contested Ground research project.

The Tu-95 bombers in question are significant assets in Russia's aerial offensive against Ukraine and are noted for their capabilities to carry nuclear weapons. These aircraft, remnants of the Soviet era, are irreplaceable since they are no longer in production. "Some estimates indicate that Russia has only 50 operational TU-95s in service, meaning the loss of even a handful would be keenly felt," Goodhind explained.

The strike, known as Operation "Spiderweb," was meticulously organized over 18 months. Drones were clandestinely transported into Russia, hidden near critical runways, and then remotely activated. Ukrainian authorities have claimed that the mission struck a total of 41 aircraft, including models like the A-50, Tu-95, Tu-22, M3, and Tu-160, destroying 12 of them.

The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that while the attacks were repelled in three regions and several aircraft caught fire in two others, satellite imagery confirms no visible damage at the Ivanovo and Ryazan air bases. However, synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery showed damage to at least eight aircraft at the Belaya air base in the Irkutsk region, a site 3,400 miles east of Ukraine.

This SAR imagery, shared by Chris Biggers, a geospatial intelligence consultant, and analyzed by the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, confirmed that at least eight aircraft were damaged. Despite the challenge of interpreting SAR images, the Middlebury analysts are confident due to the scattering of debris and cross-referencing with recent satellite and drone footage.

Video evidence from a drone pilot, shared on Telegram, showed a row of Tu-95 bombers on the tarmac moments before the strike. Sam Lair, a research associate from Middlebury, noted that although only one bomber is targeted in this footage, SAR images suggest that up to four Tu-95s might have been destroyed.

Further validation comes from Janes, an open-source defense intelligence firm, which confirmed heavy fires at the Belaya base where Tu-22 warplanes had previously been documented. In addition, another recording from the Olenya base on the Kola Peninsula shows footage of damaged Tu-95s and an AN-12 transport aircraft.

High-resolution satellite imagery captured by Planet Labs shows no significant damage at the Ivanovo and Dyagilevo air bases, reinforcing the assertion by Janes and the Middlebury team that any aircraft loss at these locations is improbable without apparent wreckage. The Dyagilevo base, displaying scorch marks, indicates targeting but no aircraft hits according to Janes’ analysis.