In News:

On June 1, 2025, Ukraine executed Operation Spider’s Web, its most extensive drone-based military strike against Russia to date. The attack destroyed an estimated $7 billion worth of Russian aircraft, including approximately 34% of Russia’s strategic bomber fleet. The operation occurred just before the second round of peace talks between the two countries in Istanbul.

Key Highlights:

• Nature of Operation:A high-precision, long-range drone strike aimed at crippling Russia’s strategic air power, especially bombers capable of launching cruise missiles and nuclear warheads.
• Planning and Execution:
  • Orchestrated over 18 months by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU).
  • 117 explosive-laden drones were deployed simultaneously.
  • Drones were concealed in wooden sheds on civilian trucks, enabling stealth transport across vast distances.
  • Once positioned, they were remotely launched, surprising Russian air defences.
• Airbases Targeted:The operation struck five major Russian airbases:
  • Belaya (Irkutsk)
  • Dyagilevo (Ryazan)
  • Ivanovo Severny
  • Olenya (Murmansk)
  • Ukrainka

• Geographic Reach:Some drone targets were over 4,300 km from the front lines, marking the deepest Ukrainian strike inside Russian territory.

Strategic and Political Context:

• The drone strike came hours after Russia's Iskander-M missile attack on a Ukrainian military training centre in Dnipropetrovsk, which killed 12 soldiers and injured over 60.
• Ukrainian Major General MykhailoDrapatyi resigned, accepting personal responsibility for the missile casualties.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hailed Operation Spider’s Web as a “brilliant success,” showcasing Ukraine’s evolving tactical capabilities.
• The operation served to strengthen Ukraine’s negotiating position ahead of the June 2 Istanbul peace talks.

Peace Negotiation Backdrop:

• The Istanbul talks followed an earlier round that resulted in the largest prisoner exchange since the start of the war but lacked a concrete ceasefire plan.
• Ukraine is expected to propose:
  • A 30-day ceasefire
  • Mutual prisoner release
  • A high-level summit between Presidents Zelenskyy and Putin
• However, Russia has reportedly rejected all ceasefire proposals and has not submitted a formal response.

Wider Conflict Situation:

• As of late May 2025, Ukraine has lost around 18% of its territory to Russian control.
• Meanwhile, Russian forces continue their advance, recently capturing a village in Ukraine’s northern Sumy region.