One-third of Russia’s strategic bombers neutralized, says Ukraine’s SBU
On June 1, 2025, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) announced that approximately 34% of Russia's strategic cruise missile carriers were incapacitated during the special operation "Pavutyne" ("Spiderweb"). The estimated value of the affected strategic aviation assets is around $7 billion USD.
Details of the operation will be disclosed later. For now, the SBU conveyed a message to the Russian Federation, quoting Ukrainian poet Lina Kostenko:
"And you thought Ukraine was that easy? Ukraine is super. Ukraine is exclusive. All the rollers of history have passed over it. All kinds of trials have been tested on it. It is tempered with the highest temper. In the modern world, it is priceless."
The agency emphasized: "We are doing everything to drive the enemy from our native land! We will strike them at sea, in the air, and on land. And if necessary—we will reach them from underground."
As part of the "Pavutyne" operation, on June 1, the SBU launched a combined drone strike on four Russian military airfields: "Belaya" (Irkutsk Oblast), "Olenya" (Murmansk Oblast), "Dyagilevo" (Ryazan, Ryazan Oblast), and "Ivanovo" (Ivanovo Oblast).
Media reports, citing intelligence sources, suggest that at least 41 aircraft—including Tu-95, Tu-22M3, and A-50 models—were hit. However, official statements have not yet confirmed the exact number of aircraft damaged or destroyed.
