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In a major escalation of its war with Russia, Ukraine has launched Operation Spiderweb—its most audacious and far-reaching drone-led assault since the conflict began in 2022. The coordinated strike targeted multiple high-value military sites deep inside Russian territory, including airbases and transportation infrastructure, destroying strategic bombers and even a critical nuclear submarine port—raising alarms about the growing potential for global spillover.
Drone-Led Assault Disables Russia’s Strategic Air Power
On June 1, 2025, Ukraine claimed responsibility for a wave of attacks on five major Russian airbases—Belaya, Dyagilevo, Ivanovo, and Olenya, among others—destroying over 40 military aircraft. The targets included strategic bombers, such as the Tupolev TU-95 and TU-22M3, as well as airborne early warning systems, including the A-50 AWACS.
Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) head, General Vasyl Maliuk, revealed the scale of planning involved:
“It took one year, six months, and nine days from planning to execution. It was our longest-distance operation. All personnel involved were extracted from Russian territory in time.”
The attacks reportedly leveraged specially modified civilian trucks to transport and conceal drones, which were hidden behind false ceilings. These drones infiltrated deep into Russian airspace before launching coordinated swarm strikes—a tactic that stunned even seasoned military analysts.
Drone Warfare Enters a New Age
Operation Spiderweb has underscored a profound shift in the nature of warfare, with drones at the centre of strategic planning.
According to Ankush Tiwari, Founder and CEO of Pi Labs, the operation marks a turning point:
“Drones have become a ubiquitous part of civil life, from influencers to hobbyists. But that very ubiquity makes them perfect Trojan horses in enemy hands. Civilian-registered drones can be easily repurposed for hostile use—armed, controlled remotely, and launched without raising suspicion.”
Tiwari emphasized that India has already seen similar tactics in Operation Sindoor and must take lessons from Ukraine’s playbook:
“We face three major drone risks: long-range swarm strikes, explosive-laden drones, and AI- or remotely operated UAVs. These low-cost, high-impact systems are reshaping modern war. The ability to conduct deep strikes with unmanned platforms is no longer theoretical—it’s happening now.”
Strike on Severomorsk: Ukraine Hits Nuclear Submarine Base
Perhaps the most provocative move in Operation Spiderweb was a strike on Severomorsk, Russia’s northern naval hub that hosts two-thirds of its nuclear-powered submarines. Satellite imagery and eyewitness reports confirmed explosions and smoke at the site, home to Yasen, Oscar II, and Sierra II-class submarines.
Though Kyiv insisted only military assets were targeted, the symbolic weight of a drone strike on a nuclear facility has drawn international concern and renewed debate over escalation thresholds.
Beyond Airbases: Infrastructure Sabotage Across Russia
The operation wasn’t limited to air strikes. Ukrainian forces also executed sabotage missions across Russian infrastructure—blowing up rail bridges in Kursk and Bryansk, causing major train derailments, and attacking 13 locations using drones and artillery.
Russia’s Defence Ministry called the attacks acts of terrorism:
“Airports across Murmansk, Ivanovo, Ryazan, Irkutsk, and Amur regions were targeted with FPV kamikaze drones. Some aircraft were destroyed. These drones were launched from areas close to the targets. We consider this a coordinated terrorist assault. Several suspects have been detained.”
Terror Tactics or Tactical Innovation? The Blurred Line
Some experts argue the attack resembles asymmetric warfare more than conventional state-led combat. Venkatesh Sai, Founder and Technical Director at Zuppa, draws a stark parallel:
“This was less a military raid and more akin to a high-tech terrorist strike—similar to what we saw in Pahalgam. It weaponizes low-cost, off-the-shelf tech in devastating ways.”
Sai warns that the drones used in Spiderweb were reportedly guided via 4G/LTE mobile networks, utilising open-source autopilot systems like Ardupilot, which are widely available in India.
“Instead of using Starlink terminals, they operated over local mobile networks. It mirrors the tactics used in attacks on India’s Jammu airbase and in Manipur.”
He advocates urgent regulatory action:
“We need to enforce strict KYC for drone autopilots, similar to SIM cards. These systems should be embedded with traceable SIMs to link each unit to an owner and mobile number. It’s a simple but critical step to secure national airspace.”
Lessons for India: Warfare Is No Longer Confined to Battlefields
Operation Spiderweb signals the dawn of a new military era—where swarms of cheap, repurposed civilian drones can neutralize strategic targets thousands of kilometres away. The blurring of lines between conventional warfare, terrorism, and technology means that future conflict may play out not just on borders—but in the skies above cities, infrastructure, and critical assets.
For India, the message is clear: drone warfare is no longer a theoretical threat—it’s a real, evolving, and rapidly spreading operational reality.
Huma Siddiqui
