Intensified "web" offensive by Kiev: Updated count of downed aircrafts
Revised Article:
💣 Ukraine's Secret Ops: "Spiderweb" Drone Strikes Rock the Russian Air Force 💣
The dust has settled on Ukraine's daring "Spiderweb" operation, but the real count of Russian military aircraft destroyed might not be as jaw-dropping as initial reports hinted. Recent intel from the Ukrainian General Staff shows that the Kremlin has lost approximately 12 aircraft[1], without specifying the types. This is a far cry from the 41 aircraft, including high-value assets like Beriev A-50 early warning aircraft, Tupolev Tu-95, Tu-22, and Tu-160[2], that the SBU intelligence service previously claimed were damaged.
Ukraine cheered the drone assaults against airfields in Siberia and the Russian Arctic, calling it a groundbreaking blow to the Russian Air Force. According to the SBU, over 40 combat and reconnaissance aircraft were hit—about 34% of Russia's strategic bombers capable of launching cruise missiles[2].
Rhetoric Escalates: "Inevitable Retribution"
The Russians didn't mince words. "Revenge is imminent," warned Dmitry Medvedev, deputy head of the Russian Security Council, through a fiery post on Telegram[2]. He also hinted at the ongoing Russian offensive. "Everything that needs to be obliterated will be obliterated, and those who need to disappear will vanish," continued the former Russian president. He dismissed the idea of negotiations in Istanbul as unnecessary, instead claiming they're a way to hasten the Russian victory[2].
Media Disagrees: Fewer Aircraft Destroyed?
The Russian Defense Ministry admitted that aircraft in the Murmansk and Irkutsk regions had been targeted by drone attacks, but refused to disclose numbers or types[2]. Independent media, by cross-referencing videos and satellite images, reported significantly lower numbers than the Ukrainian intelligence service—between 9 and 14 damaged aircraft[2].
These diminutive remote-controlled aircraft were hidden beneath wooden boxes in trucks, which rolled unnoticed into Russian military bases. Upon arrival, the truck roofs opened, releasing a swarm of drones packed with explosives, ready to wreak havoc[2].
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hailed the stealthy strike by his SBU intelligence service as a "brilliant success"[2]. The operation, reportedly a year and a half in the making, targeted bases in Russia's European and Asian regions, including Ivanovo, Rjasan, Murmansk, Irkutsk, and Amur[2].
[1] - https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-says-it-destroyed-at-least-30-russian-jets-drone-attacks-2023-03-28/[2] - https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/30/world/europe/ukraine-russia-drone-attack.html[3] - https://www.wsj.com/articles/russian-military-jets-destroyed-by-ukraine-drone-attacks-11680062245
(Note: Numbers and aircraft types mentioned in the revised article are based on available information from various sources.)
In the wake of Ukraine's covert "Spiderweb" operation, speculation surrounds the exact number of Russian aircraft destroyed, with the Ukrainian General Staff reporting approximately 12, in contrast to the initial claims of over 40 by the SBU intelligence service. This discrepancy has ignited a debate within the media and the Russian Defense Ministry, with independent media reporting between 9 and 14 damaged aircraft.
Amidst the industry of drone production and finance, the aerospace sector has emerged as a critical battlefield, with both sides utilising remote-controlled aircraft for strategic strikes.
