Ukraine Claims 34% of Russia's Strategic Bombers Destroyed in "Spider Web" Operation

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on June 2 that the special operation "Spider Web" was conducted independently by Ukraine, without the assistance of any partners. The operation aimed to target Russian military assets involved in attacks on Ukraine. This operation, which had been in the planning stages for over a year and a half, was described as the deepest incursion into Russian territory to date. It involved 117 drones striking multiple airports across several Russian states, resulting in the destruction of 34% of Russia's strategic bombers. Ukrainian forces successfully withdrew from Russian territory following the operation.

Zelenskyy outlined three core demands for the upcoming negotiations with Russia: a full and unconditional ceasefire, the release of prisoners of war, and the safe return of abducted children. He emphasized the importance of a high-level summit to build a reliable and lasting peace, stressing that only direct dialogue between leaders could resolve the key issues in the conflict.

The second round of Russia-Ukraine talks was scheduled to take place on June 2 in Istanbul. However, several unexpected events occurred just before the talks, including the collapse of two bridges in Russia, the destruction of a Russian military train in Zaporizhzhia, and the resignation of the Ukrainian Army Commander due to a training camp attack. These incidents added complexity to the already tense negotiations.

The Russian side, led by President Vladimir Putin's aide, arrived in Istanbul for the talks. The Russian delegation brought a memorandum draft and other ceasefire proposals, with a focus on ensuring the safety of maritime navigation in the Black Sea. The Ukrainian delegation, led by Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov, also arrived in Istanbul, with a team of 14 members, two more than the previous round.

Despite the challenges, both sides expressed their commitment to continuing the negotiations. The core issue remained the ceasefire, with Russia insisting on conditions such as Western guarantees against NATO expansion and the lifting of sanctions, while Ukraine sought an immediate ceasefire to gain breathing room on the battlefield. The lack of mutual trust between the two sides made the negotiations difficult, but both expressed a willingness to continue the dialogue.

Ukraine's Security Service announced on June 1 that it had conducted a strike on a Russian bomber base located in the Siberian region. The operation was described as precise, with approximately 34% of Russia's strategic bombers being targeted. Initial estimates from Ukraine suggested that the "Spider Web" operation resulted in losses for Russia's strategic aviation forces amounting to 700 million dollars.

Russia, however, disputed Ukraine's claims. The Russian website "War with Fake News" published an article stating that an analysis of the videos released by Ukraine confirmed that the claim of destroying 34% of Russia's long-range aircraft fleet was false. Russia asserted that Ukraine likely destroyed only two Tu-95 strategic bombers and one An-12 transport aircraft. The remaining damaged aircraft, according to Russia, could be repaired and returned to service, making Ukraine's reported results inaccurate.