Ukraine’s Operation Spiderweb Strikes Russian Bombers Amid Escalating Attacks

Between June 6 and June 10, 2025, Ukraine launched Operation Spiderweb, a sophisticated drone raid that damaged over 40 Russian strategic bombers deep inside Russian territory. Concurrently, Russia conducted massive missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian cities including Kyiv and Kharkiv, causing civilian casualties and infrastructure damage. Although Istanbul peace talks led to prisoner exchanges, no ceasefire was agreed upon as both sides accused each other of stalling. Ukraine also damaged the critical Crimea Bridge with an underwater explosives attack, disrupting Russian logistics. NATO allies pledged increased defense support amid ongoing Russian military expansion and intensified hybrid warfare tactics.

Background & Context

The Russia Ukraine war, which intensified with Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, is marked by fierce conventional and hybrid warfare involving extensive drone and missile strikes targeting critical infrastructure and military positions. Diplomatic efforts, largely mediated by Turkey, have facilitated prisoner exchanges but have yet to achieve a lasting ceasefire amid ongoing tensions. NATO and Western countries have significantly increased military and economic assistance to Ukraine, reflecting the broader geopolitical complexities and the conflict’s far-reaching impact on global security and international relations.

Strategic infrastructure such as the Crimean Bridge remains a focal point of military operations, with both sides targeting these vital logistic routes. The Istanbul peace talks held in May and June 2025 resumed direct negotiations, yet disagreements over ceasefire conditions persist. International public sentiment strongly supports Ukraine, calling for intensified sanctions and military aid, while Russian state media continue propaganda efforts to shape narratives. Meanwhile, European countries navigate the challenges of defense commitments and civilian displacement as Ukrainian populations demonstrate resilience under constant threat.

Key Developments & Timeline

The Russia Ukraine war intensified in late May and early June 2025 with extensive military offensives, strategic drone operations, and complex diplomatic engagements, all set against heightened Russia NATO tensions.

May 25–26, 2025: Russia launched record drone and missile attacks on multiple Ukrainian cities, causing widespread casualties and infrastructural damage. Concurrently, prisoner exchanges between Russia and Ukraine were initiated amid ongoing hostilities.
May 29, 2025: Russia proposed a new round of peace talks scheduled for June 2 in Istanbul, aiming to revive diplomatic dialogue despite limited progress in previous rounds.
June 1, 2025: Ukraine executed Operation Spiderweb, a high-profile drone strike damaging over 40 Russian strategic bombers at airbases deep within Russian territory—an unprecedented escalation in Ukrainian military capabilities.
June 2, 2025: The second Istanbul peace talks took place, concluding without a ceasefire agreement but with continued discussion on prisoner exchanges.
June 3, 2025: Ukrainian forces carried out an underwater explosive attack severely damaging a key pillar of the Crimean Bridge, temporarily disrupting a critical Russian logistics corridor.
June 4–5, 2025: Russian missile and drone attacks intensified across Ukraine. Simultaneously, diplomatic pressures increased internationally, including from NATO countries and Turkey, seeking avenues to de-escalate conflict.
June 6, 2025: Russia launched intense retaliatory missile and drone attacks on Kyiv, resulting in civilian casualties and widespread damage.
June 7–8, 2025: Russian forces advanced in Sumy and Donetsk regions, leading to evacuations and increased security concerns. Prisoner exchanges became contested amid rising tensions.
June 9, 2025: Ukraine conducted a night raid damaging Russian fighter jets near Nizhny Novgorod. NATO and international allies sustained ongoing political and military support for Ukraine.
June 10, 2025: Drone strikes targeted both Moscow and Odesa, while Ukrainian President Zelenskyy called for concrete international action to bolster Ukraine’s defense and push for peace.

Throughout this period, relentless Russian missile attacks and hybrid warfare tactics continued alongside fragile diplomacy, maintaining a high threat level. Global observers remain watchful of nuclear escalation risks, focusing on critical issues such as will Russia use nuclear weapons in Ukraine as part of the evolving geopolitical conflict.

Official Statements & Analysis

From June 6 to June 10, 2025, the Russia Ukraine war continued to escalate with significant military engagements and intensifying diplomatic efforts. Ukraine’s “Operation Spiderweb,” a sophisticated drone strike deep inside Russian territory, inflicted damage on over 40 strategic Russian bombers. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hailed the operation as “our most far-reaching” and predicted its place in history. Russia responded with massive missile and drone strikes on key Ukrainian cities such as Kyiv and Kharkiv, causing multiple civilian casualties and infrastructure destruction. Meanwhile, Turkey’s President Erdogan emphasized using “all our diplomatic power and potential for peace,” as peace talks in Istanbul resulted in prisoner exchanges but failed to secure a ceasefire agreement.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte underscored Russia’s overwhelming ammunition production capacity, producing four times more ammunition than NATO countries within three months, highlighting the ongoing challenge NATO faces. Symbolic acts of solidarity, such as Dutch Queen Maxima presenting a bell forged from Russian weapon fragments to the Czech Republic, further exemplify international support for Ukraine. US President Donald Trump praised Ukraine’s drone operation as “strong and badass,” while expressing concern over the risks of escalating conflict. The ongoing situation demands robust preparedness against frequent drone and missile attacks, reliable information to counter misinformation, and adaptive strategies amid complex geopolitical instability, nuclear security concerns, and hybrid warfare risks affecting civilian safety and regional stability.

Conclusion

The Russia Ukraine war intensified in early June 2025 with Ukraine’s Operation Spiderweb delivering significant damage to Russian strategic bombers deep within Russia and Russia responding with large-scale drone and missile strikes across Ukrainian cities, causing civilian casualties and extensive infrastructure damage. Despite limited diplomatic progress through prisoner exchanges, peace talks in Istanbul remain stalled amid mutual accusations of delay. NATO allies continue increasing defense support as Russian military buildup persists, while humanitarian and nuclear safety concerns deepen. The conflict’s complex blend of conventional and hybrid warfare underscores the urgent need for sustained international cooperation and political will to achieve a lasting resolution.

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