Shocking satellite images show true extent of ‘Russia’s Pearl Harbour’ | World | News
New satellite images have revealed the consequences of Ukraine’s significant drone strike on a Russian airbase over 2,500 miles from its border. These images seem to depict damage to the Belaya air base in Irkutsk Oblast, Siberia, which Ukraine claimed had been targeted by a drone barrage on Sunday, along with three other military bases. On Monday, geospatial intelligence consultant Chris Biggers posted on X what are likely the first satellite images following the strike on Belaya air base in Irkutsk Oblast.
These images, captured by US aerospace company Umbra Space, appear to confirm the destruction of at least three Tu-95MS strategic bombers and one Tu-22M3 aircraft, with damage to a Tu-95MS and two Tu-22M3 bombers. This attack, dubbed Operation Spiderweb, has been likened to Japan’s attack on the United States at Pearl Harbour in 1941 during World War II.
Andrii Kovalenko, of Ukraine‘s National Security and Defence Council and head of the Centre for Countering Disinformation, said at least 13 Russian aircraft were destroyed, and more were damaged in the overall operation.
Other targeted sites included the Olenya air base in Russia’s Murmansk Oblast, the Diaghilev airbase in Ryazan Oblast, and the Ivanovo airbase in Ivanovo Oblast, with over 40 aircraft hit.
The Kyiv Independent has reported insights from Ukrainian intelligence, detailing a crafty tactic where first person view (FPV) drones were smuggled into Russia beneath the roofs of mobile wooden cabins mounted on lorries and then operated from afar.
According to Ukraine‘s Security Service (SBU), their counteractions resulted in disabling 34% of Russia‘s cruise missile bombers, inflicting damages estimated around $7 billion (£5 billion).
Volodymyr Zelensky added: “Of course, not everything can be revealed at this moment, but these are Ukrainian actions that will undoubtedly be in history books.
“Ukraine is defending itself, and rightly so – we are doing everything to make Russia feel the need to end this war. Russia started this war, Russia must end it. Glory to Ukraine!”
Russia’s defence ministry acknowledged what it termed a “terrorist attack” on its air bases, confirming that multiple aircraft had caught fire.
It said: “Today, the Kiev [Kyiv] regime staged a terror attack with the use of FPV drones on airfields in the Murmansk, Irkutsk, Ivanovo, Ryazan, and Amur Regions.
“All terror attacks on military airfields in the Ivanovo, Ryazan, and Amur Regions were repelled.”
