Kiev, Ukraine - The Ukrainian president described the covert operation as one of “historical books.” Ukrainian officials said nearly one-third of Moscow's strategic bomber fleets were destroyed or damaged in a few hours on Sunday, falling cheaply into Russian territory.

The Ukrainian Ministry of Security Services’ commitment numbered as “spider web” involves hard plans and huge risks over 18 months. It was personally supervised by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

This was achieved in this 3-year-old war, when peace talks failed to provide a long-standing unconditional ceasefire in Kiev.

Sunday’s attack outlines Ukraine’s wartime strategy: Ukrainian military planners outnumbered, exceeded and relied on Western partners, who sought innovative and cost-effective means to precise Russian losses, often tended to surprise.

Here is what we know about the Ukrainian attacks so far:

Zelenskyy said 117 drones were used in operations at four military airports, causing severe damage or damage to 34% of Russia's air missile carrier fleet.

Zelenskyy said the complex operation was conducted from an office next to the Russian security department's office, and Zelenskyy said there was no elaboration on the location of Russia. Performing it involves smuggling first-person perspective or FPV, where drones are flying to Russia, where they are placed in wooden containers that are eventually taken away by trucks near the airport.

From there, drones flew to strategic bombers that attacked Russia. On the day of the attack, social media videos shared by Russian media showed drones rising from the inside of the container. Ukrainian security services firm said that by the end, more than 40 Russian fighter jets were severely damaged or destroyed, with an estimated cost of about $7 billion.

One of the most eye-catching targets is the Belaya Air Force Base in the Siberian region of Irkutsk, which is more than 4,000 kilometers (2,500 miles) from Ukraine.

Russia's defense ministry confirmed the attack in a statement saying they damaged the plane and sparked fires in the air bases in the Irkutsk region and in the north Murmansk region. The ministry said it said the Russian Far East and the Amur areas in the western regions of Ivanovo and Reshan were also on strike.

There is no way to independently verify the claim from either side.

SBU said strategic aircraft, including the A-50, TU-95 and TU-22M, were destroyed during the attack.

Moscow has previously used TU-95 and TU-22M long-range bombers to launch missiles in Ukraine, while the A-50 is used to coordinate targets and detect air defenses and missiles. Ukraine has long wanted to reduce Russia's ability to launch deadly missile bombers on Ukrainian cities, and Kiev has made a limited response.

The loss of the aircraft could reduce Russia's ability to devastating missile barrage to Ukraine.

The attack was correct, as Moscow has released record drones and missiles against Ukraine to reduce domestic weapons production capacity, morale breaking and consuming limited number of air defense missiles in Kiev. These attacks usually hit civilians as well.

The attack also brought morale boost to Ukraine when peace talks broke out and could undermine Russia's confidence as it could easily win the war.

It was the day before a round of direct peace talks held in Istanbul on Monday. It also happened the same day Russia launched a record number of 472 drones against Ukraine in another barrage.

"The enemy thinks it may blow up Ukraine and kill Ukrainians in impunity and no end. But that's not the case. We will respond to Russian terror and destroy the enemy at sea, air and land," the head of SBU chief Vasyl Maliuk said on Monday.

He added: “We will also get them from the ground if needed.”

Despite the setbacks and shortcomings on the battlefield, throughout the war, Kiev tried to focus on the rear of Russia to weaken and neutralize combat capabilities.

Sunday's action is perhaps the bravest of the series held by Ukraine.

In April 2022, Ukraine hit the flagship flagship of the Russian Black Sea Fleet with two Ukrainian Neptune anti-fleet fleets. The sinking marks a major victory for Ukraine in the war.

In October 2022, a Ukrainian attack damaged the Kechi Bridge, which linked Russia to Aneks Crimea in Moscow. The bridge has important strategic and symbolic value and is attacked again in July 2023.

A year later, in August 2024, Ukrainian troops launched a bold military invasion into the Kursk region of Russia, and for the first time since World War II, Russian territory was occupied by invaders. It brought a humiliating blow to the Kremlin. Russia claimed in April 2025 that it had completely reclaimed its border territory, although Ukraine insisted that it still had troops there.