Drones strike Siberia for first time in what Ukrainian media say is an SBU operation targeting Russian military aircraft
Residents of Russia’s Irkutsk region, in Siberia, have reported the first drone attack there since the start of the full-scale war, with drones spotted in the region’s Usolsky District, according to the news outlets 7×7 and Mediazona. The district is home to the Belaya military airfield, which houses Tu-22M3 bombers.
Residents of Russia’s Murmansk region also reported a drone attack. Preliminary information suggests that the Olenya airfield — where Tu-22M3 bombers are also based — was targeted.
The Ukrainian outlet Babel, citing sources in the country’s security services, reported that on June 1, Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) launched an operation codenamed Pavutyna (“Spiderweb”). The operation reportedly targeted more than 40 Russian military aircraft, including A-50 early warning planes, Tu-95 strategic bombers, and Tu-22M3s.
Babel published video footage that it said shows the Belaya airfield on fire, accompanied by commentary from SBU chief Vasyl Malyuk.
According to the outlet’s sources, four Russian military airfields were targeted: Dyagilevo in the Ryazan region, Olenya in the Murmansk region, Belaya in the Irkutsk region, and Ivanovo (Severny) in the Ivanovo region.
Telegram channels reported that the FPV drones used in the attacks on air bases in Irkutsk and Murmansk were launched from trucks parked along nearby highways.
The governor of Irkutsk, Igor Kobzev, confirmed that Siberia had come under drone attack for the first time, with the strike targeting a military facility. He said the drones were indeed launched from a truck. “The source of the drone launch has already been neutralized. It was a truck. The main thing is not to panic. There is no threat to the lives or health of civilians,” he wrote on Telegram.