How Many Bombers Were Destroyed In Ukraine's Operation Spider Web And How Would It Affect Russia's Combat Capability?
Ukraine’s drone strikes on June 1 have resulted in the loss of more than 11 aircraft at Russia’s long -range and strategic airfields.
The Russian planes targeted in the attacks included strategic nuclear bomber planes like TU-95 and TU-22M3.
Russia’s at least two airports were targeted, while the trailer used to launch the drone was not attacked in the Amor area.
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelannsky shared details about the attack, saying 117 drones were used in the attack.
On the day of the attack, Ukraine claimed to have targeted more than 40 Russian bomber planes in drone strikes at several Russian airports. They claim that 34 % of cruise missile ships were targeted at the targeted airports
His post on Telegram said, “The most interesting thing is that our operation centers were located very close to Russia’s FSB (Russia’s security service) in one of their territories.”
However, these claims have not yet been confirmed freely.
The drone strike damaged Russia’s nuclear tried, but this is not a major damage.
These attacks will not reduce Russia’s nuclear power, nor will it make a difference to the rest of the aircraft’s ability to fire missiles on Ukraine.
But Russia will now have to do something about the potential threat to such attacks, and security measures can prove to be quite expensive.
Which Russian Airfields were targeted?
The Beliabay base was targeted in Erotesk, which was also confirmed by the Russian Defense Ministry.
According to a video filmed on Sunday in this airfield, not only were TU-22M3, but there were probably TU-95ms and TU-160 bomber aircraft.-
In a footage made from a distance on Sunday, smoke can be seen rising from the parking area of the aircraft. The footage is visible in the TU-160 bomber aircraft, but it is impossible to guess how much the aircraft was damaged.
On Monday, Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) analyst Chris Biggers shared satellite images, which can be seen at the Russian airport three destroyed TU-95 and one TU-22M3. In addition, there are three destroyed aircraft, which are probably TU-22M3.
These satellite images have been edited by Chris Biggers, so it is not possible to estimate the exact situation.
The Russian Ministry of Defense has confirmed that the Olynia airport was also targeted in Mormask. There are also TU-22M3 bomber aircraft on a permanent period. On Sunday, videos of drones that attacked the TU-95 bomber aircraft surfaced online.
Open Source Intelligence Channel OSNT Technical published the footage, saying that it was the airport in Olynia.
Air Fields’ satellite photos reviewed another channel, Avy Vector, also confirmed that it was the airport in Olynia.
According to this recording, four aircraft were set on fire, three of which were TU-95ms while one was AN-12, but according to the OSIT technical, the planes that were set on fire were all four TU-95ms.
There were also reports of airstrikes at the Diagilo Airport in the Yazan area. The governor of Riazan made several messages about the drone strike on his telegram channel, saying that residential buildings suffered minor damage, but did not report any attack on the airfield.
The Russian Ministry of Defense, on the other hand, reported the presence of a drone in Riazan, but there was no confirmation that any aircraft at the airport was damaged.
It should be noted that the airport also has training ships, including TU-22M3 and TU-95ms.
There were also reports of the attack on Ivano’s airport, but there was no footage from there.
Saratov’s Airfield was also claimed to be targeted in Saratov region on social media, but no evidence was revealed.
Bela Airbase After Attack
How can this loss affect Russia’s combat capability?
Video footage and satellite images suggest that 11 to 12 Russian aircraft were destroyed at various airfields. These included five or six TU-95ms, five TU-22M3 and one AN-12.
In addition, Chris Biggers also reported damage to at least one TU-95ms.
However, no bomber aircraft can be brought back to service that may be damaged because the plane’s malfunction is a sensitive matter: for example, if a car is damaged on the road, the chances of survival of the people are much higher than the plane.
Therefore, in the aviation sector (military and civil) defects are seen more carefully and no such ship can live in a unit ready for war that has been slightly damaged.
According to World Air Force 2025, Russia had 57 TU-22M and 47 TU-95 in the beginning of the year. They probably meant TU-22M3 and TU-95ms.
According to Military Balance 2024, Russia also had 57 TU-22M3 aircraft service while the number of TU-95ms was 58.
According to the military balance, Russia has 13 TU-160 bomber aircraft while three are in more experimental stages. According to the World Air Force, the number could be 15 to 16, but no one of the aircraft was reported to be damaged.
Three Russian bomber planes, TU-95ms, TU-160 and TU-22M3 also have the potential to carry nuclear weapons.
But these bombers do more independently unlike aircraft missiles, they can be used with non -nuclear weapons and they have more resistance to nuclear action because they can be in the air.
Although the aircraft seems to be slightly old types of nuclear weapons, they are actually very important and it is a big deal to harm at least five of the 50 TU-95ms.
TU-22M3, although not officially part of nuclear tride, is used in European countries to create fear.
It is also worth mentioning here that if these planes are no longer prepared, it is impossible to replace something new.
But Russia has resumed production of TU-160m2 strategic bomber aircraft that are more active than TU-95ms or TU-22M3.
In any case, more than a dozen aircraft were not affected in the Ukraine attacks. Therefore, this reduction in Russia’s air fleet is unlikely to have any significant effect.
What kind of aircraft are these?
TU-22M3 and TU-95ms are very different bomber aircraft. TU-22M3 is not considered a strategic bomber because his range is not more than 2500 km. In Russian aviation, it joins long-range bomber planes and its main weapon is the KH-22 missile.
It is a very dangerous weapon, but these missiles were manufactured in the Soviet Union and no longer have their production. The aircraft can use other weapons, such as bombs thrown from the atmosphere but currently it is used to launch K-22. It is not known what TU-22M3 will do when these missiles are stored.
TU-95 is a strategic bomber aircraft, probably the oldest Russia aircraft. TU-95 first flight on November 12, 1952.
On the other hand, the amendment of the MS aircraft began in the late 1970s. The aircraft was practically the new TU-95, especially designed to launch the KH-55 cruise missiles. In the 2000s, some TU-95ms were modernized to use new KH-101 and KH-102 missiles and improved various systems.
According to a military balance report, in 2025, the Russian Air Force had 31 ‘old’ TU-95ms and 27 modern aircraft that were able to use KH-102 missiles.
Required in the Air Field’s Protective System
Ukraine’s attacks may also have indirect results as these attacks revealed serious shortcomings in the deployment of strategic aircraft at the airports.
Ukraine’s drone appeared to be moving freely during flight. They were clearly controlled. This may also mean that no electronic combat system was working in the airport area.
During the attacks, there was no news about the air defense system or even firing on air targets with small weapons.
TU-95ms was parked in the open area without shelter. According to satellite photos, TU-22M3B had parks in safe areas but it was insufficient.
The debate about using shelters for aircraft in Russia has been going on for a long time, but shelters or shelters of these bombers will be very expensive.
However, after the loss of more than a dozen aircraft, all Russian airports will begin to be equipped with such structures.
With the air defense systems and electronic war systems, it will become a large and most expensive program of modernization of Russian military airports.
It may also be that these attacks can be carried out all over Russia and the targets of these attacks are not only airports.
So Ukrainian intelligence still has the means of taking such actions in the future? This question is important and precautions can put a lot of financial burden on a country that is already spending too much on war.
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