Ukraine’s Massive Drone Swarm Strikes Russian Bomber Bases, Damages Key Strategic Aircraft

In a bold and unprecedented operation, Ukraine has carried out what appears to be its largest drone strike campaign since the start of the conflict, targeting two vital Russian air bases deep within Russian territory. The carefully coordinated assault took place on June 1, striking the Olenya and Belaya airfields, both known to house Russia’s long-range strategic bombers responsible for missile attacks on Ukrainian cities.

This operation marks a significant escalation in Ukraine’s drone warfare strategy. According to Ukrainian defense officials, the attack was executed using swarms of drones launched from mobile vehicles positioned close to the airfields. These mobile launch platforms allowed Ukrainian operators to maintain direct line-of-sight control, ensuring highly accurate navigation and precise strikes on critical targets.

The mission was conducted under the supervision of Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) as part of an ongoing special operation known by the codename “Pavutyna”, which means “Web” in Ukrainian. The goal of this campaign is to weaken Russia’s long-range aerial strike capabilities, which have been used to bombard Ukrainian infrastructure and cities.

A Ukrainian official involved in the operation described it as “a coordinated effort to eliminate enemy aircraft that continue to attack our civilian infrastructure on a nightly basis.”

Scale of the Strike

Ukrainian sources claim that the drone swarms managed to damage or destroy more than 40 aircraft, including some of Russia’s most important aerial assets:

• Tu-95 bombers — Long-range, nuclear-capable aircraft used for launching cruise missiles.

• Tu-22M3 bombers — Capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear weapons, often used for strikes against Ukrainian targets.

• At least one A-50 airborne early warning aircraft, an essential part of Russia’s air surveillance and coordination system.

Footage released by Ukrainian defense channels shows smoking wrecks of Tu-95 bombers engulfed in flames, with secondary explosions lighting up the night sky. Open-source videos from local residents also captured the aftermath of the attacks, further confirming the operation's scale and success.

Estimated Damage

While the full extent of the losses has yet to be independently verified, Ukrainian estimates suggest that Russia may have suffered over $2 billion in damage. If confirmed, this would be the most severe blow to Russia’s strategic aviation assets since the beginning of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

The destruction of these long-range bombers could temporarily disrupt Russia’s capacity to conduct missile strikes deep into Ukrainian territory, offering a critical window of relief for Ukrainian cities frequently targeted by aerial attacks.

Strategic Implications

The Tu-95 and Tu-22M3 bombers are pivotal to Russia’s long-range offensive strategy, often launching cruise missiles from standoff ranges, far from the frontlines. By targeting these aircraft directly at their home bases, Ukraine has demonstrated an ability to reach deep into Russian territory and strike valuable military assets.

Moreover, the use of mobile, remotely launched drone swarms showcases Ukraine’s evolving and increasingly sophisticated drone warfare tactics, capable of bypassing Russia’s layered air defenses.

As the war enters another tense phase, this high-impact operation underlines how unmanned systems and precision drone warfare are reshaping modern conflicts, offering smaller nations a way to challenge superior conventional airpower.

This attack also signals that Ukraine is determined to take the battle to the heart of Russia’s military infrastructure, targeting the very aircraft responsible for many of the devastating missile strikes against civilian areas.

With operations like Pavutyna continuing, it’s clear that Ukraine’s drone campaign is entering a new, more aggressive chapter.