Russia on Wednesday downplayed the damage from Ukraine’s drone attack on its nuclear-capable bombers earlier this month, calling the impact “purposefully exaggerated,” according to Moscow’s most detailed comments on the strikes.
On June 1, Ukraine launched a bold drone operation targeting several Russian military airbases deep inside Russia, claiming to have damaged or destroyed 41 strategic bombers valued at around $7 billion.
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The attack, dubbed Operation Spiderweb, struck bases thousands of miles from Ukraine, including locations in Siberia and near the Arctic Circle.
Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Moscow’s nuclear deterrence “has not suffered significant damage” and that the damaged equipment “can and will be restored,” according to state media.
Moscow initially reported some aircraft had caught fire and vowed retaliation, framing recent missile and drone strikes on Ukraine, including the capital Kyiv, as “retaliation” for the June 1 attack.
Ukraine’s strikes exposed vulnerabilities in Russia’s air bases and dealt a significant morale boost to Kyiv after months of setbacks. Ukrainian officials said the attack hit about one-third of Russia’s strategic bomber fleet, including Tu-95MS and Tu-22M3 bombers capable of carrying nuclear weapons.
The operation involved smuggling about 150 drones into Russia hidden in trucks, then launching them near airbases to strike targets. Videos showed drones emerging from truck roofs, highlighting the operation’s creativity and sophistication.
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While Russia claims the losses are manageable, experts say it will take years to replace the bombers lost in the attack, a serious blow to Moscow’s strategic aviation capabilities.
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