Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov responded for the first time to Ukraine’s Operation Cobweb, according to Russian state news agency RIA Novosti on June 3.
Dmitry Peskov said Vladimir Putin was kept informed “in real time” about the large-scale drone attack that targeted multiple military airfields across Russia.
Peskov added that the Investigative Committee of Russia had opened an investigation into the incident and urged the public to “wait for the results of the investigation” and to rely on the Defense Ministry’s official statements.
Earlier, the Russian Defense Ministry confirmed that several strategic aircraft had caught fire as a result of the drone strike, but did not disclose the full extent of the damage.
Special Operation ‘Cobweb’: Ukraine Targets Russian Strategic Bombers
On June 1, Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) carried out a wide-scale operation — code-named Operation Cobweb — to target Russian strategic aviation assets. According to NV sources, the operation damaged or destroyed more than 40 aircraft used by Russia in strikes on Ukrainian cities, including A-50 airborne early warning planes, and Tu-95, Tu-22M3, and Tu-160 bombers.
The strikes hit airfields in Olenya (Murmansk Oblast), Belaya (Irkutsk Oblast), Diaghilev (Ryazan Oblast), and Ivanovo (Ivanovo Oblast). The attack on Belaya marked the first known Ukrainian strike on military infrastructure in Siberia since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy personally oversaw the operation, which was executed by SBU chief Vasyl Malyuk and his team.
Sources told NV the mission involved over a year and a half of planning and significant logistical challenges. The SBU first transported FPV drones into Russian territory. Later, they smuggled in mobile wooden structures mounted on trucks, with drones concealed beneath the roofs. At the chosen moment, the roofs were remotely opened, and the drones launched toward the targeted aircraft.
On June 2, the SBU confirmed that 41 aircraft had been hit, including the strategic bombers A-50, Tu-95, Tu-22M3, and Tu-160. Malyuk said the operation disabled approximately 34% of Russia’s strategic cruise missile carrier fleet stationed at its main airbases. The estimated value of the damaged aircraft exceeds $7 billion.
Geospatial intelligence consultant Chris Biggers released satellite imagery from June 2 confirming significant damage at the Belaya airbase. The images show at least eight aircraft impacted — four Tu-95MS and four Tu-22M3 bombers.
“Peskov added that the Investigative Committee of Russia had opened an investigation into the incident and urged the public to “wait for the results of the investigation” and to rely on the Defense Ministry’s official statements.”
I can’t wait for the kremlin version. All drones were intercepted. Drone debris caused minor damage. Don’t believe any satellite images.
“…wait for the results of the investigation” and to rely on the Defense Ministry’s official statements.”
Let me fix this clownish statement:
“wait for the results of the invention of BS and rely on the Defense Ministry’s official lies.”