Ukraine claims massive drone strike on Russian bombers in 'Spiderweb' operation

Ukraine’s Security Service said it has struck more than 40 Russian bombers deep inside Russian territory in what would be one of the largest and most audacious attacks on Russian territory in the yearslong conflict.

Ukraine’s Security Service said it has struck more than 40 Russian bombers deep inside Russian territory in what would be one of the largest and most audacious attacks on Russian territory in the yearslong conflict.

A source within the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) told NBC News that the country targeted “41 strategic Russian aircraft” in an offensive operation code-named “Spiderweb.”

The source also released dramatic video purportedly showing a drone attack at the Belaya air base in Russia’s Irkutsk region, located in Siberia, nearly 3,000 miles from Ukraine. The video captures bombers under attack, with explosions visible and smoke rising from the scene.

“Preliminary estimates indicate that enemy aviation has suffered over $2 billion in damage,” the source said. “Enemy strategic bombers are burning en masse in Russia.”

Head of the Ukrainian Security Service, Vasyl Malyuk, studying a map of Russia's strategic aviation location, in his office in Ukraine. Ukrainian Security Service / via APUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised Ukraine's Security Service for executing what it called its longest-range operation, more than 18 months in the making, calling it a historic success.