First satellite images emerge of Russia’s Belaya airfield after Ukrainian Spider’s Web operation

OSINT analyst Chris Biggers posted the images on his X account.

The released photos show visible damage to aircraft at the airfield.

The images suggest that around eight long-range strategic bombers — Tu-95MS and Tu-22M3 — were destroyed by the drones.

"What a remarkable success in a well-executed operation," the analyst wrote.

Besides Belaya, the Olenya airfield in the Murmansk region, the Ivanovo airfield in the Ivanovo region, and the Dyagilevo airfield in the Ryazan region were also hit.

What is known about SBU Operation Spider’s Web

On June 1, 2025, Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) carried out a major operation called Spider’s Web aimed at destroying Russian bombers. Reports say 40 aircraft were destroyed.

According to the SBU, the estimated value of the Russian strategic aviation assets hit in the operation is around $7 billion.

Meanwhile, Russia’s Ministry of Defense claimed that "all terrorist attacks were repelled" at military airfields in the Ivanovo, Ryazan, and Amur regions.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked SBU chief Vasyl Malyuk for the results of the operation. He said the SBU’s forward office for the mission on Russian territory was located next to an FSB office in one of the regions. A total of 117 drones were used in the operation.

Andriy Kovalenko, head of Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation, later stated that at least 13 Russian aircraft were destroyed, with even more damaged during the large-scale SBU special op.