A dramatic new video has surfaced showing drones hitting Russian strategic bomber aircraft, adding fresh details to the ongoing conflict in Eastern Europe.
Ukrainian sources claim this recent drone strike damaged as many as 41 planes, while satellite images confirm hits on at least 12 aircraft.
Damage Sometimes Hard to Detect From Space
Interestingly, not all the damage caused visible fires or explosions, which means some of the strikes wouldn’t be picked up by satellite surveillance.
The video captures hits on planes stationed at several key airbases, including Dyagilevo and Ivanovo — places where Russian officials had previously claimed attacks were successfully defended against.
Visual Evidence From Multiple Russian Airbases
Viewers watching the footage can see how many planes were struck across four different bases: Belaya, Dyagilevo, Olenya, and Ivanovo.
Some of the damage shown includes holes about half a meter wide in the aircraft, which, while serious, didn’t cause the kind of fires or explosions that satellites could spot.
The video even shows how such damage could be masked using car tires, making it easier to hide from aerial observation.
Conflicting Reports on the Number of Aircraft Hit
Meanwhile, the United States, via Reuters, has challenged Ukraine’s claim, stating that 20 Russian aircraft were destroyed or damaged in what has been dubbed Operation Spider Web — far fewer than the 41 planes Kyiv mentioned.
No Official Russian Response Yet
So far, there hasn’t been any official response from Russia regarding the strike.
The footage clearly documents drones targeting a total of 33 Russian planes, including two reconnaissance aircraft alongside strategic bombers and strike planes, highlighting a significant blow to Russia’s air capabilities.