Ukraine’s Security Service has released footage of its daring “Spiderweb” operation that hit Russia’s nuclear-capable bombers deep inside Russia last week.
Sharing the compilation of videos capturing Ukrainian drones hitting various parts of Russian strategic bombers, the counterintelligence agency said the operation involved the use of modern UAV control technology, which combines autonomous artificial intelligence algorithms and remote control system. Forty-nine strategic and reconnaissance aircraft were attacked in four military airfields across Russia during the surprise operation that caused around $7 billion worth of financial damage to the Kermlin, according to the SUB.
The Security Service revealed that among the hit aircraft were A-50,' 'Tu-95,' 'Tu-22,' 'Tu-160,' as well as 'An-12' and 'Il-78. Open sources have confirmed the destruction of at least 11 bombers with the use of the newly-released satellite footage.
"During the flight, some drones lost signal and switched to performing a mission using artificial intelligence along a preplanned route. After approaching and contacting a specifically designated target, the warhead was automatically activated,” the security service said.
The Russian Defence ministry acknowledged the attack on Sunday, stating that attacks on military airfields in Ivanovo, Ryazan, and Amur regions were repelled. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zeleskiy praised the operation as “brilliant”, stressing that the Russian military airfields were legitimate targets. He also said the attack would not have happened, had Russia agreed to unconditional ceasefire.
Russian President Vladimir Putin warned on Wednesday that the Kremlin would respond to the Ukrainian drone attack.
