"Spider Web" Operation Replica? Russia Claims to Thwart Ukraine's Long-Range Attack Plot
Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, July 14 - The Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation announced on the 13th that it had thwarted Ukraine's attempt to use drones to launch surprise attacks on two military airports in the Russian Far East and inland areas. Details released by the Russian side indicate that the Ukrainian methods are similar to the "Web" special operations conducted against several Russian strategic airports in June last year.
The Federal Security Service stated in a statement that Ukrainian special operations forces used fixed-wing drones and balloons to deliver boxes containing first-person view (FPV) drones to Bryansk Oblast, which borders Ukraine. These FPV drones are equipped with warheads and mobile ground control stations. Subsequently, these drones were hidden by Ukrainian operatives in the compartments beneath trailers, with household appliances loaded above to disguise them as ordinary cargo, penetrating deep into Russian territory.
According to the statement, the Ukrainian side transported these FPV drones to Shagol Airport in Chelyabinsk Oblast and near the Ukrainian Airport in Amur Oblast, where they completed final assembly and debugging in rented warehouses, preparing to attack these two military airports.
According to reports from TASS, Russian operatives closely monitored every stage of the Ukrainian actions and seized 24 FPV drones during the raid. These drones are capable of withstanding electronic warfare interference and are equipped with neural network control modules produced by the UK, the US, Canada, and Sweden, with warheads containing over 1 kilogram of explosives. The Russian side also seized two mobile ground control stations equipped with self-destruct devices containing 250 grams of explosives, as well as communication equipment used to contact the Ukrainian operatives.
The Federal Security Service also stated that it has arrested individuals involved in this attempted attack and their accomplices. The statement noted that this attempted attack is part of a series of sabotage activities by the Ukrainian special operations forces, which include attempts to assassinate two senior Russian Ministry of Defense officials and plans to conduct a drone swarm attack on a military airport in Rostov Oblast.
According to Reuters, this attempted attack is clearly similar to the "Web" operation. In June 2025, the Ukrainian side carried out the "Web" operation, secretly transporting a large number of drones to the vicinity of several strategic airports in Russia and launching surprise attacks, claiming that the attacks caused significant losses to Russia's strategic air forces. The US estimates that 10 Russian aircraft, including several strategic bombers, were destroyed in the attacks. (Hu Ruoyu)
Russian Federal Security Service foiled a Ukrainian attempt to attack military airports in Bryansk Oblast and Amur Region using drones on July 13, 2023. The operation involved 24 FPV drones and mobile ground control stations, which were intercepted before they could be deployed. This incident is reminiscent of a previous operation known as 'Web', where Ukrainian forces successfully attacked Russian strategic airports.
- Ukrainian forces attempted to use drones to attack Russian military airports.
- 24 FPV drones were seized by Russian authorities during the operation.
- The operation mirrors a previous Ukrainian operation known as 'Web'.
- Ukrainian drones were equipped with over 1 kg of explosives and advanced control systems.
- Russian authorities arrested individuals involved in the foiled attack.