Fact Check: "Ukrainian drones destroyed nearly a third of Moscow's strategic bomber fleet."
What We Know
On June 1, 2025, a coordinated drone attack by Ukraine targeted several Russian airfields, resulting in significant damage to Russia's strategic bomber fleet. Ukrainian officials reported that the operation, codenamed "Spiderweb," led to the destruction or damage of approximately 34% of Moscow's strategic bombers, which includes aircraft such as the Tu-95 and Tu-22M, known for launching missile strikes against Ukraine (AP News, PBS). The attack involved 117 drones and was described as a meticulously planned operation that took over 18 months to prepare (AP News).
The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed that there were indeed attacks on air bases in the Irkutsk and Murmansk regions, although they downplayed the extent of the damage, stating that only a few planes were affected (AP News, PBS). However, independent verification of the claims from either side remains challenging.
Analysis
The claim that Ukrainian drones destroyed nearly a third of Moscow's strategic bomber fleet is supported by multiple sources, including statements from Ukrainian officials and corroborating reports from news outlets. The assertion that over 40 bombers were either destroyed or damaged aligns with the figures provided by the Ukrainian Security Service (AP News, Al Jazeera).
While the Russian government acknowledged the attacks, their reports were less specific about the scale of the damage, indicating a potential bias in their communication, which is common in wartime narratives (PBS, South China Morning Post). The Ukrainian sources, on the other hand, have a vested interest in portraying the operation as a significant success to boost morale and demonstrate military capability.
The reliability of the sources is mixed; while the Associated Press and PBS are reputable news organizations, the information from Ukrainian officials may be influenced by the need to maintain public support and morale during the ongoing conflict. Thus, while the claim is plausible and supported by evidence, the exact figures may be subject to exaggeration or misinterpretation.
Conclusion
The claim that "Ukrainian drones destroyed nearly a third of Moscow's strategic bomber fleet" is True based on the available evidence. The reports from Ukrainian officials and corroborating news sources indicate that the drone attack successfully targeted a significant portion of Russia's strategic bombers, despite the lack of independent verification of the exact numbers. The context and details surrounding the operation further support the credibility of the claim.
