Russia fired over 2,800 air-launched missiles at Ukraine since invasion — many from jets destroyed in Operation Spider’s Web

This was reported by Yuriy Ihnat, spokesman for the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, in an interview with Ukrainska Pravda.

According to him, among the more than 40 damaged Russian aircraft, some were completely burned out, others permanently disabled, and some may still be repairable. Ihnat added that these aircraft will be unable to carry out missions for a long time — especially their main role: terror attacks on Ukrainian territory.

"From the first days of the full-scale invasion, Russia has used long-range strategic bombers — Tu-22M3s, Tu-95s, and Tu-160s. According to data I prepared specifically for Ukrainska Pravda, those bombers have launched 2,437 Kh-101, Kh-555, and Kh-55 cruise missiles on Ukraine since the start of the invasion. Of those, 1,916 were shot down. That’s thanks to the truly effective work of air defense and the entire Defense Forces, especially when it comes to cruise missiles," Ihnat said.

At the same time, he noted that around 500 missiles either hit their targets or were not intercepted.

He also said the SBU struck Tu-22M3 bombers armed with Kh-22 and Kh-32 missiles. According to Ihnat, the Russians fired over 400 of those, and only a few were intercepted, since the Kh-22 carries a warhead weighing over 900 kg and is among the most powerful missiles in Russia's arsenal.

"It’s called the ‘aircraft carrier killer’ because it’s designed to strike carrier groups. But Russia has repeatedly used it against large cities, causing massive destruction and civilian casualties. There have been many victims of this missile," Ihnat said.

What is known about SBU Operation Spider’s Web

On June 1, 2025, Ukraine’s Security Service 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.

The Head of the Security Service of Ukraine, Lieutenant General Vasyl Malyuk, stated that during Operation Spider’s Web, 41 Russian aircraft were hit by drones, including A-50, Tu-95, Tu-22M3 and Tu-160 bombers, at four military airfields - "Belaya", "Diagilevo", "Olenya" and "Ivanovo".