 <picture class="article__media"> <img src="https://img.lemde.fr/2025/06/01/0/0/2038/1111/664/0/75/0/96266cc_ftp-import-images-1-oghx91ctnpud-291c558799c246ecb4b06fa62547573e-0-aa07a642584b47e5b4a4a63314f74d01.jpg" alt="Images Le Monde.fr" width="100%" height="auto"> </picture> <noscript> <img src="https://img.lemde.fr/2025/06/01/0/0/2038/1111/664/0/75/0/96266cc_ftp-import-images-1-oghx91ctnpud-291c558799c246ecb4b06fa62547573e-0-aa07a642584b47e5b4a4a63314f74d01.jpg" alt="Still from a video released by the Ukrainian security services on June 1, 2025. It purportedly shows several burning aircraft at the Belaya air base, in Russia's Irkutsk region, more than 4,600 kilometers from Ukraine."> </noscript> <figcaption class="article__legend" aria-hidden="true">Still from a video released by the Ukrainian security services on June 1, 2025. It purportedly shows several burning aircraft at the Belaya air base, in Russia's Irkutsk region, more than 4,600 kilometers from Ukraine. <span class="article__credit" aria-hidden="true">SECURITY SERVICE OF UKRAINE/AP</span> </figcaption> 

Arrests, searches, road checks: Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) and police were on high alert on Monday, June 2, as they sought to track down those responsible for the Ukrainian drone attack on several airfields that house Russia's strategic aviation.

The operation, dubbed "Spider Web," took place the previous day across the Russian Federation, from Murmansk in the far north to Amur in the far east, including the central regions of Ivanovo and Ryazan as well as Irkutsk, in Siberia. Coordinated by Ukraine's security service, the operation caught Russian intelligence by surprise. Although no fully verified account has yet been established, Kyiv claimed the strike destroyed or damaged 41 Russian military aircraft, including 11 strategic bombers – Tu-95s and Tu-22s.

The destruction of several bombers was confirmed by open-source footage from the Olenya air base in Murmansk and from Belaya air base in Irkutsk, near Lake Baikal.

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Kyiv said its military damaged more than 40 aircraft, including bombers, on Sunday. Beyond the strategic losses, which remain to be exactly determined, the operation is above all a humiliation for Moscow.{ai:summary}<p>Ukraine's security service executed a surprise drone attack on multiple Russian airfields, targeting strategic aviation across the country. The operation, named "Spider Web," reportedly resulted in the destruction or damage of 41 Russian military aircraft, including strategic bombers.</p><p>In response, Russia's Federal Security Service heightened security measures, conducting arrests and searches nationwide. Open-source footage confirmed damage at key air bases in Murmansk and Irkutsk. #foreignaffairs</p>

Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian air bases expose Russia's vulnerability

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