Operation "Pavutina" was a historic strike against Russia's rear: how the SBU struck 41 strategic aviation aircraft

1 June 2025 became one of the most high-profile dates in the recent history of Ukrainian special operations. It was on that day the Security Service of Ukraine carried out operation “Pavutyna”, which struck Russia’s strategic aviation deep in its rear.

According to officially published data, the operation was carried out at the instruction of the President of Ukraine, Supreme Commander-in-Chief Volodymyr Zelensky and under the direct leadership of Lieutenant General Vasyl Malyuk. Preparation lasted more than one and a half years – in conditions of full secrecy, complex logistics and utmost clandestinity.

At the designated moment 117 FPV drones attacked the enemy’s strategic aviation simultaneously at four Russian military airfields: “Belaya”, “Dyagilevo”, “Olenya” and “Ivanovo”. The strikes hit aircraft that Russia was using or could have used to strike Ukrainian cities. As a result of the special operation 41 aircraft were hit. Among them were named Tu-95, Tu-22M3, Tu-160 and A-50. The estimated amount of damage inflicted on Russia exceeded $7 billion.

The particular significance of “Pavutyna” was that the strike hit elementselement of Russia’s strategic aviation – a component of the very military might with which the Kremlin had been intimidating Ukraine and the world for years. After this operation it became clear: even remote Russian military facilities can no longer be considered unreachable. For Ukraine this was not only an effective attack on the enemy’s equipment. It was a blow to Russia’s psychological confidence in its impunity. The occupiers saw that the war they brought to Ukrainian soil is returning to their deep rear.

Operation “Pavutyna” has already become an example of how technology, planning, endurance and the work of intelligence services can change perceptions of modern warfare. It showed that Ukraine is capable not only of defending itself, but also of methodically destroying the enemy’s critically important targets where he considered himself protected.

Earlier we wrote:

• SBU unleashed a drone apocalypse on Russia: all strategic aviation ablaze, the operation was prepared for one and a half years
• “Pavutyna” of death for Russian aviation: SBU destroys dozens of Russia’s strategic aircraft
• 164 robotic strikes replaced 2,300 fighters: CNN showed how Ukraine conducts a networked drone war
• Ukraine strikes Russia’s war economy: oil refineries, air defenses, command posts and drone production damaged
• A night strike by the Armed Forces hits the enemy’s rear — fuel depots, EW systems and a drone command post were hit