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In a striking display of operational ingenuity, Ukrainian drones have destroyed billions of dollars worth of Russian aircraft across multiple bases, including locations as far as Siberia. This unprecedented assault, dubbed "Spiderweb," was meticulously planned over an 18-month period and marks Ukraine's longest-range offensive of the conflict to date.

Spearheaded by the head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), Vasyl Maliuk, the operation involved smuggling short-range drones and explosives into Russia. These were concealed within containers that were stealthily transported and positioned near Russian military bases. A remotely activated mechanism lifted the roofs of the containers, allowing the drones to be launched. Advanced first-person view (FPV) technology enabled the drones to be guided remotely, likely from Ukrainian territory.

Attempting to launch drones from Ukraine would have been significantly more challenging due to the vast distances and robust Russian air defenses they would have had to overcome. Instead, the close proximity launch ensured the drones' success in avoiding detection and reaching their intended targets.

Images released by Ukrainian security officials showcased the innovative setup, with drones concealed inside containers disguised as wooden sheds. Social media footage shared by Russian outlets confirmed the scenes of drones emerging from these containers.

According to the SBU, the attacks damaged 41 aircraft, including high-value A-50 surveillance planes, supersonic Tu-160 and Tu-22 bombers, and massive Tu-95 bombers — aircrafts originally designed for nuclear payloads but repurposed for launching cruise missiles. The collective damage is estimated at $7 billion, affecting four prominent Russian airbases: Belaya in Irkutsk, Olenya in Murmansk, Dyagilevo in Ryazan, and Ivanovo Severny in Ivanovo. The Belaya airbase, notably, is situated over 2,500 miles from Ukrainian territory.

The Russian defense ministry acknowledged that several of its aircraft caught fire during the attack and admitted the involvement of several "participants" who have now been detained. They reported no casualties.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy disclosed that the complex operation involved the use of 117 drones, each manned by operators. He noted that the strike hit 34% of the strategic cruise missile carriers stationed at the targeted airbases. Zelenskyy also confirmed that those who assisted in the operation have been successfully extracted and are now safe, without revealing whether they were Ukrainian or Russian agents.

Since the onset of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, Ukraine has countered its military disadvantage by developing an affordable and extensive fleet of attack drones, showcasing a blend of resourcefulness and strategic innovation in this latest operation.