Ukraine share video of destroying Russian military aircrafts
Dramatic new footage showing the recent wave of drone strikes on Russian airbases has been released by the Security Service of Ukraine, with some hailing it as a major blow to Moscow’s air power and others warning of severe retaliation. Operation Spiderweb targeted key airfields deep inside Russian territory, including Engels, home to Russia’s Tu-95 strategic bombers.
Explosions were reported across several sites, and satellite imagery later showed multiple damaged aircraft. Former Ukrainian government adviser Anton Gerashchenko, who shared the footage on X, commented: “Ukraine’s Operation ‘Spiderweb’, an attack on Engels and other airfields deep in Russia, has reportedly damaged strategic bombers, Tu-95s and Tu-22s, as well as surveillance aircraft. The scale of damage is enormous. This is the new face of war – precision, reach, and audacity.”
READ MORE: Putin’s puppet sends chilling WW3 threat to ‘invade Paris and Berlin’
Airfields across Russia were targeted during Operation Spiderweb (Image: X)
The footage, shared on X (formerly Twitter), first highlights the impact of repeated Russian raids on Ukraine before showing drones flying low over Russian runways, explosions lighting up the night sky, and several planes apparently engulfed in flames.
German military official Major General Christian Freuding said the damage was extensive. He told a podcast: “More than a dozen aircraft were damaged, TU-95 and TU-22 strategic bombers as well as A-50 surveillance planes.
“Only a handful of A-50s exist and can now no longer be used for spare parts.”
He continued: “But there is, of course, an indirect effect as the remaining planes will need to fly more sorties, meaning they will be worn out faster, and, most importantly, there is a huge psychological impact.”
He added: “After this successful operation, the belief that Russia’s strategic aviation was safe on its own soil no longer holds true. Russia will need to ramp up the security measures.”
The video also highlights Russian attacks on civilians targets in Ukraine (Image: X)
German military official Major General Christian Freuding said the damage was extensive. He told a podcast: “More than a dozen aircraft were damaged, TU-95 and TU-22 strategic bombers as well as A-50 surveillance planes.
“Only a handful of A-50s exist and can now no longer be used for spare parts.”
He continued: “But there is, of course, an indirect effect as the remaining planes will need to fly more sorties, meaning they will be worn out faster, and, most importantly, there is a huge psychological impact.”
He added: “After this successful operation, the belief that Russia’s strategic aviation was safe on its own soil no longer holds true. Russia will need to ramp up the security measures.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin (Image: Getty)
Analysts have warned the Kremlin is unlikely to let such an embarrassment pass unanswered – but may be running out of options.
Michael Kofman, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said: “In general, Russia’s ability to substantially escalate strikes from what they are already doing – and attempting to do over the past month – is quite constrained.”
Nevertheless, a senior Western diplomat suggested that Moscow’s response could be “huge, vicious and unrelenting”.
The warning was underscored by a chilling outburst on state-controlled TV at the weekend by Vladimir Solovyov, widely regarded as one of President Vladimir Putin’s most loyal propagandists.
Speaking on his prime time show, Solovyov demanded strikes on Ukraine’s Parliament and the presidential palace, and went further still – urging Russia to “invade Paris and Berlin”.
Andrey Sidorov, deputy dean of politics at Moscow State University, replied: “How are we going to feed them?”
Solovyov said: “Who said we would feed them? We would just take them but not feed them. Who needs the likes of Merz and Annalena Baerbock? I think it would be very funny.”
He also mocked civil unrest in the United States, telling viewers: “With interest the whole world is looking at the revolution that is unfolding in America.
“Now Trump is facing the Democratic Party in exile. As soon as he started trying to deal with illegal immigration, battles in California started.”
Meanwhile the war continues to grind on across Ukraine. In Dnipropetrovsk, Russian forces reportedly killed one man and damaged homes and a kindergarten in the Synelnykivsky district using a guided bomb.
Ukraine’s military also claims Russia is dragging its heels on a planned prisoner exchange, accusing Moscow of “playing dirty games”.
Despite the risks of escalation, Mr Gerashchenko’s video has been widely praised by Ukrainian supporters – though others warn Spiderweb may mark the start of an even more dangerous phase of a war which has now been raging almost three and a half years.