Last week , Ukraine targeted Russian airports with drone strikes, to which Russia responded with a large-scale missile strike.
SNPNEWS.IN Update: June 5, 2025, Russia launched a significant counterattack on Ukraine, following Ukraine’s Operation Spiderweb, a drone strike on June 1 that targeted Russian airbases and damaged or destroyed up to 41 aircraft, including strategic bombers. The Russian assault involved ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, Kalibr missiles fired from Black Sea warships, and dozens of drones, striking multiple Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv.
Ukrainian authorities reported three emergency workers killed and 20 people wounded in Kyiv, with 16 hospitalized. Additional injuries were reported in Ternopil (10, including five emergency workers), Poltava (three), and Khmelnytskyi, where residential and infrastructure damage occurred. Ukraine’s air defenses shot down three missiles over Lviv, but the attack disrupted Kyiv’s metro system and damaged civilian infrastructure, including a train, administrative buildings, and a cafe.
The counterattack followed a phone call on June 4 between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump, where Putin stated Russia would retaliate for Ukraine’s drone strikes, which he labeled as “terrorist attacks.” Trump described the call as a “good conversation” but noted it would not lead to “immediate peace,” suggesting Russia’s response would be severe. Ukrainian officials, including President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, condemned the attack, with Zelenskyy reiterating calls for a U.S.-backed 30-day ceasefire, which Russia rejected.
Ukraine’s Commissioner for Human Rights, Dmytro Lubinets, demanded stronger international action, calling Russia’s actions “systematic targeting of civilian infrastructure.”The escalation comes amid stalled peace talks in Istanbul, where Russia rejected an unconditional ceasefire but agreed to prisoner swaps. Trump, who has pushed for negotiations, expressed frustration, having previously called Putin “absolutely crazy” for intensifying attacks. Analysts suggest Russia may escalate further with drone and missile strikes, though nuclear options are considered unlikely due to opposition from China. The conflict remains dynamic, with Ukraine bracing for additional retaliation.
Operation Spiderweb
Operation Spiderweb was a Ukrainian military operation conducted on June 1, 2025, targeting Russian airbases with a coordinated drone strike. The operation aimed to disrupt Russia’s air capabilities amid the ongoing conflict. Ukrainian forces deployed dozens of drones, striking at least three key Russian airbases, including Engels-2, a strategic bomber base in Saratov Oblast. The attack damaged or destroyed up to 41 Russian aircraft, including Tu-95 and Tu-22M strategic bombers, fighter jets, and support aircraft, marking one of Ukraine’s most significant strikes on Russian air assets since the war began.
The operation was described by Ukrainian military sources as a response to Russia’s intensified missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian civilian infrastructure. It relied on domestically produced drones with extended range and precision, showcasing Ukraine’s growing technological capabilities. The strikes disrupted Russian air operations, with satellite imagery confirming damage to hangars, runways, and fuel depots at Engels-2 and other sites. Ukrainian officials, including President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, hailed the operation as a “critical blow” to Russia’s ability to conduct long-range strikes.
Russia labeled the attack a “terrorist act” and vowed retaliation, which materialized in the June 5 counterattack involving missiles and drones across Ukrainian cities. Operation Spiderweb heightened tensions, complicating ongoing peace talks in Istanbul and prompting Russian President Vladimir Putin to warn of severe consequences in a call with U.S. President Donald Trump. The operation underscored Ukraine’s strategy of targeting high-value Russian military assets to counter Moscow’s numerical advantage, while also exposing vulnerabilities in Russia’s air defense systems.