- June 1, 2025
- 7:57 pm
- World News
According to the Security Service of Ukraine, the estimated value of the destroyed aircraft is about $7 billion.
Ukraine did not inform the United States about the historic operation involving a massive strike against one of the key components of Russia’s nuclear triad. However, there is no reason to be surprised: Ukraine is an independent country that defends itself, not acting in the interests of the West or NATO.
The plans for such operations must remain secret: they should be kept away even from partners and allies. In this operation, Ukrainians struck at Russia’s nuclear triad on their own — without the help of other countries.
This was truly a unique military operation: Ukrainians managed to destroy at least a quarter, and possibly a third, of the enemy’s strategic aviation in just a few hours. Transporting a truckload of drones to Siberia is an extremely complex task that requires special preparation.
There are reports (requiring further verification) that the Russian command had gathered a large number of aircraft at the airfields, intending to use some of them as sources of spare parts for other planes. However, the unexpected attack disrupted these plans.
Unprecedented strike on Russian aviation: all details of Operation “Pautina”
On June 1, 2025, Ukrainian forces carried out a unique operation that has already gone down in the history of the war between Ukraine and Russia.
Operation “Pautina”, conducted by the Security Service of Ukraine, struck more than 40 Russian aircraft at four military airfields deep inside Russia, including Siberia. For the first time, Ukrainian drones struck airfields located more than 5,500 kilometers from Ukraine’s border.
Targets and results: more than 40 Russian aircraft hit
According to the SSU, the attack led to the destruction or damage of 41 Russian aircraft, including strategic bombers Tu-95 and Tu-22M3, as well as the unique A-50 long-range radar detection aircraft, valued at $350 million.
The total damage inflicted on Russia is estimated at around $2 billion. Footage published online shows Russian bombers burning at the “Bєлая” airfield, with SSU chief Vasyl Maliuk confirming the operation’s success, saying:
“That’s how fine the Belaya airfield looks now. Strategic enemy aviation.”
Geography of the strikes: airfields in four regions
Ukrainian kamikaze drones struck the following airfields:
- Olenya (Murmansk region)
- Dyagilevo (Ryazan region)
- Ivanovo (Ivanovo region)
- Belaya (Irkutsk region, city of Usolye-Sibirskoye)
This attack was the first in the history of the war between Ukraine and Russia when Ukrainian forces managed to strike targets in Siberia.
How was Operation “Pautina” carried out?
According to NAnews – Israel News, the uniqueness of the operation lay in the tactics of using drones. SSU sources said the drones were transported inside trucks disguised as ordinary cargo trucks. These trucks, with wooden cabins inside, arrived in Russia, where the drones were hidden under roofs. At the right moment, the roofs were opened remotely, and the drones took off to strike the strategic aviation of the enemy.
“Bringing a truck full of drones to Siberia — that’s a skill,” analysts note.
Who controlled the operation?
SSU sources emphasized that the operation was personally overseen by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, while SSU chief Vasyl Maliuk coordinated its direct implementation.
All participants in this unique operation are safe on the territory of Ukraine.
Political and military implications
The strike on Russia’s strategic aviation took place on the eve of negotiations in Istanbul. Nevertheless, the Russian delegation still flew to participate in the talks, but hopes for a ceasefire look extremely illusory.
This operation has already changed the military-strategic balance:
- Russia has lost a quarter of its strategic aviation, and its restoration under current conditions is impossible — the country has no serial production of strategic bombers.
- Russia’s ability to launch air-launched cruise missile strikes has been sharply reduced.
- The Russian command is now forced to reorganize measures to protect its remaining aircraft.
Significant consequences for the world
As NAnews – Israel News points out, the success of Operation “Pautina” is an example of how small and maneuverable tools like kamikaze drones can radically change the strategic picture. After the neutralization of the Black Sea Fleet by unmanned naval drones, a blow has now been struck against the aviation component of the aggressor’s army.
Here is a table summarizing the results of the operation:
| Target of the strike | Number of destroyed/damaged aircraft | Estimated damage |
|---|---|---|
| “Olenya”, “Dyagilevo”, “Ivanovo”, “Bєлая” | 41 | $2 billion |
A new stage of the war and lessons for the world
“Pautina” has become another milestone in the confrontation between Ukraine and Russia, emphasizing that the era when aviation determined the outcome of battles is a thing of the past. Now, both in Israel and Ukraine, it is clear: unmanned technologies are changing the course of wars and becoming a crucial tool for defense and security.
“The laws of war remain, but war itself changes,” the author of the NAnews article concludes.