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Zelenskyy Confirms 34% of Russian Cruise Missile Carriers Hit in Ukraine’s “Spider Web” Strike
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![Photo of Vlad Litnarovych]( "Photo of Vlad Litnarovych")
Ukraine’s recent drone strikes on Russian airbases represent the country’s most far-reaching operation since the start of the full-scale war, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on June 1.
The operation—code-named “Spider Web”—was carried out by Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) and personally overseen by SBU Chief Vasyl Maliuk.
According to Zelenskyy, it marked the culmination of one year, six months, and nine days of planning and preparation.
“An absolutely brilliant result. A fully independent operation by Ukraine. The most long-range operation we’ve conducted,” Zelenskyy said in his first public comment on the strike campaign.
The President confirmed that all Ukrainian operatives were safely evacuated from Russian territory prior to the attacks, and thanked Maliuk and the SBU team for what he called a “textbook” operation.
“Of course, we can’t reveal everything right now, but these are Ukrainian actions that will definitely be studied in history books,” Zelenskyy added.
“Ukraine is defending itself—and justly so. We are doing everything to ensure Russia feels the urgency of ending this war. Russia started it. Russia must end it.”
According to Zelenskyy, the strike operation involved 117 drones and an equal number of operators, targeting airbases across multiple Russian regions in three separate time zones.
Perhaps the most daring element: the operational headquarters for Ukraine’s sabotage network inside Russia was allegedly located right next to a regional FSB headquarters, a detail Zelenskyy revealed publicly for the first time.
Today, a brilliant operation was carried out. The preparation took over a year and a half. What’s most interesting, is that the “office” of our operation on Russian territory was located directly next to FSB headquarters in one of their regions.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) June 1, 2025
In total, 117 drones were used in… pic.twitter.com/tU0SMN9jdB
President Zelenskyy also claimed that 34% of Russia’s strategic cruise missile carrier aircraft stationed at targeted airfields were damaged or destroyed.
Earlier, reports emerged that Ukrainian forces trained artificial intelligence systems used in drone operations by studying Soviet-era bombers preserved in military museums—aircraft that mirror those now being struck deep inside Russian territory.
-21d0b63c17f6020e4df75f6c6f9a2f4f.jpg "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
