Russia struggling to rebuild air force after June's Operation Cobweb
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Strike on Russian aircraft during Operation Cobweb (Photo: NV sources)
Russia has not yet overcome the damage to its strategic aviation from a major Ukrainian drone operation in June 2025, sources told NV on Jan. 8, citing Western intelligence services.
"Despite all the Kremlin's attempts to conceal the real scale of the losses, Russia still cannot overcome the consequences of this attack and restore its strategic aviation potential," a source said.
On June 1, Ukraine's SBU Security Service conducted the large-scale and unique Operation Cobweb to destroy Russian strategic aviation aircraft.
On June 2, the SBU confirmed that simultaneous strikes on four military airfields deep inside Russia damaged 41 aircraft, including A-50, Tu-95, Tu-22M3 and Tu-160 models.
Ukrainian drones targeted four airfields on Russian soil: Olenya in Murmansk Oblast, Belaya in Irkutsk Oblast, Dyagilevo in Ryazan Oblast and Ivanovo in Ivanovo Oblast. The strike on Belaya airbase marked the first Ukrainian attack on targets in Siberia since Russia's war against Ukraine began.
The operation was personally developed and coordinated by then-SBU head Vasyl Maliuk. Drone operators from the Alpha unit carried out the direct attack.
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