Russia tries to cover up aircraft losses after Ukraine’s Spider’s Web strike

This was reported by Suspilne, Radio Svoboda, and RBC-Ukraine, citing a source in Ukraine's Security Service (SBU).

According to the source, Russia is replacing destroyed aircraft at airfields with undamaged ones to conceal the damaged planes from satellite images.

The source also notes that OSINT analysts recorded a case where, on June 2, a burned Tu-95 aircraft was visible at one of the targeted airfields, but by June 4, an intact aircraft was in the same spot.

“They placed it in exactly the same position as the damaged plane had been. But the image clearly shows the scorched tarmac underneath it,” the analysts emphasize, publishing satellite images of the airfields.

• On June 1, 2025, the Security Service of Ukraine conducted a major Spider’s Web operation to destroy Russian bombers.
• The head of the Security Service of Ukraine, Lieutenant General Vasyl Malyuk, disclosed the details of the historic special Spider’s Web operation, which resulted in the downing of more than 40 Russian military aircraft.
• Satellite images of the Russian Belaya airbase confirm damage to aircraft following an operation by the Security Service of Ukraine.
• On June 4, NATO sources anonymously stated that the Ukrainian Security Service's Spider's Web operation was indeed large and that 40 Russian aircraft were damaged.