The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) introduced the tactics, stating that an asymmetric attack was used to destroy Russia's strategic aviation forces.
After 41 Russian military aircraft including Tu-22 and Tu-95 were hit or destroyed by Ukraine (Ukrainian military sources confirmed that 6-7 Tu-95s and two Tu-22s were destroyed), the SBU stated that this special operation named "Spider Web" had been prepared by Ukraine's intelligence agencies for more than a year.
The "Spider Web" plan was carried out by Vasyliy Maliuk, the head of the SBU, and the SBU team, with President Zelensky personally overseeing the progress of the operation. The Ukrainian intelligence department scanned the Russian bombers, taught artificial intelligence to recognize them, and executed automatic destruction operations.
The essence of this operation was to directly launch suicide drones from cargo trucks equipped with special launchers. The SBU collaborated with other special forces to secretly transport the suicide drones into Russia. They were placed in specially designed wooden crates that were also portable. The drones were hidden inside these crates located on Russian territory, and the crates themselves were placed on trucks. Ukrainian intelligence personnel hired Russian truck drivers (one of whom was strangled) to transport the specially designed wooden crates near several Russian air force bases. When the time was ripe, the Ukrainian intelligence personnel remotely opened the crate lids, and the drones took off simultaneously to attack the Russian aircraft.
Each suicide drone used by Ukraine cost only $300 to $600. In contrast, the upgraded Tu-95MS strategic bomber developed by Russian researchers is worth more than $100 million.
Sources from the SBU said that in addition to the attacks on four airports including Olenya Airport (Russia's long-range aviation base in the Kola Peninsula of the Murmansk Oblast), Dzyatlovo Airport (Ryazan Oblast Air Force Base), Belaya Airport (large military airport in Irkutsk Oblast), and Ivanovo Airport (military airport in Ivanovo Oblast), four other airports were also attacked by Ukrainian drones.
Tu-95 and Tu-160 are the main platforms for Russia to launch nuclear cruise missiles. Even partial losses would severely weaken Russia's nuclear strike or nuclear retaliation capabilities. Tu-160, Tu-95, and A-50 are all Soviet designs. Due to sanctions and parts shortages, these planes have either been completely discontinued or are technically difficult to produce quickly again. The weakening of Russia's long-range aviation forces can cause strategic imbalance.
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1833736596262912/
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