Unraveling “Spider’s Web”

Lessons From Ukraine’s Daring Intelligence Operation

A Tu-95 burns at Olenya airbase in Murmansk, Russia

On June 1st, the Ukrainian military launched “Operation Spider’s Web”. Through a series of strikes against airfields and bases located in Western Russia and Siberia, the Ukrainian military has reportedly managed to damage or destroy approximately one-third of Russia’s bomber aircraft. Russian commentators have referred to Spider’s Web as their own “Pearl Harbor” due to the scope and scale of the damage inflicted. However, while Pearl Harbor was an unprovoked attack by the Japanese against a neutral United States, Spider’s Web was yet another example of Ukraine overcoming Russia’s military advantage through innovation and asymmetric warfare. This piece will examine the lead-up to Spider’s Web and the implications of the operation on the ongoing war in Ukraine.