Incredible Operation Spiderweb

By Thomas McInerney LTG USAF (Ret) and Paul E Vallely MG USA (Ret)

VLADIMIR Putin’s goons have accused a Ukrainian ex-DJ of being the spy behind the incredible Operation Spiderweb. The SAS-style strike on Sunday against four airfields deep inside Russia has humiliated the Russian leader and wiped out a third of his nuclear bombers.

Artem Timofeev and wife Ekaterina Timofeeva

Russian bloggers have pinned Artem as coordinating the attack

Ukrainian drones bombed Russia’s nuclear bomber fleet on Sunday

Desperate to save face, Russian war bloggers have named the man they think ran Ukraine’s operation inside the country as Artem Timofeev. Artem, 37, is a former Ukrainian DJ and is believed by the sleuths to have owned the lorries used to carry the containers to the strikes. Alleged drivers who transported the crates and were tracked down by the bloggers all had similar stories about taking instruction from an “Artem”, the Daily Mail reports. They appeared to have thought they were transporting wooden frame houses, but instead they moved kamikaze drones into strike position.

One pro-Russian blogger said: “Artem is now wanted in connection with a terrorist attack in Irkutsk region. “Four lorries were registered in his name, and one of them was the source of the drones that launched [in an attack on a Putin airbase].” Artem’s wife Ekaterina Timofeeva, 34, is also suspected to have aided him. According to pro-Kremlin Russian media, Ekaterina describes herself as a “witch” and is the author of B-list erotic novels. A flat in Chelyabinsk has been linked by bloggers to the pair and where Artem was reportedly seen just a week ago.  But he is now likely out of the country – with Volodymyr Zelensky saying all those involved with the op had been extracted.

Putin’s doomsday bomber fleet is now crippled with 41, or a third, of his most prized aircraft lying in smoldering wrecks on tarmac. The bombers were capable of shooting non-nuclear missiles and bombs and had been terrorizing Ukraine doing so. Ukraine said the sneak attack was worth $7bn (£5.2bn) in damage to Russia – caused by only 117 cheaply made drones. Ukraine’s spies spent 18 months putting the plan into action – targeting five Russian bases.

Ekaterina is reportedly a self-described ‘witch’

The pair are now thought to have fled Russia sources said Artem had moved to the Russian city of Chelyabinsk several years ago and worked as a businessman. In December he is said to have started a haulage business and ran several lorries – the perfect cover to get the drivers to move the crates into position. Zelensky said the drivers were led far away from their vehicles and Russian authorities are yet to announce if they have made any arrests. Driver Andrei M is said to have told Russian investigators that he was told to park at a cafe next to Belaya base. Almost as soon as he stopped, the roof was remotely opened and the drones began to fly out. The nondescript shipping containers parked in laybys and verges had attracted little attention.

A Russian Tu-95 bomber, pictured moments before it was hit by a Ukrainian drone

One of the trucks was caught on video self-destructing

But on the morning of June 1, their lids blew open and the drone swarms poured out. Russian civilians stood in awe as they saw the drones zoom out of the containers and head in the direction of the airbase. Ukraine’s kamikaze drones then filmed themselves flying through the airfields and striking down at the planes – destroying them. Hapless Russian soldiers tried to stop the incoming attack with anti-drone guns, but there were simply too many of them. Satellite pictures released following the operation show smoldering wrecks collapsed onto the runways. Thick black smoke climbed high, with civilians near the bases sending video of Ukraine’s successes around the world. Zelensky touted the operation as “historic” and revealed he had overseen Operation Spiderweb. The valiant leader said: “What’s most interesting, and this can now be stated publicly, is that the ‘office’ of our operation on Russian territory was located directly next to FSB headquarters in one of their regions.”

1. US Sun, James Halpin 5.3.2025

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