Russian manhunt for suspect in daring drone strike
Russian authorities are searching for 37-year-old Artiom Timofeyev from Donetsk, who is suspected of involvement in a drone attack on a military airfield in the Irkutsk region.
Many reports being circulated by Russian media and officials are likely not accurate. Such reports may be part of a disinformation or information warfare strategy by the Russian Federation.
Russian law enforcement is seeking 37-year-old Artiom Timofeyev from Donetsk, suspected of participating in the drone attack on the military airfield "Belaya" in the Irkutsk region.
Information about the search was published by the administration of the city of Ust-Kut but was deleted after media interest intensified.
According to the Telegram channel "Baza," Timofeyev, who owns four trucks, was allegedly involved in drone attacks on military airfields in the Murmansk, Irkutsk, Ryazan, and Ivanovo regions.
The independent Russian portal Meduza highlights that one of the truck drivers testified that Timofeyev received an order from an entrepreneur in the Murmansk region to transport four prefab houses from Chelyabinsk to the Kola region.
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During the transport, the driver received phone instructions from an unknown person about where and when to stop. The last stop was the "Rosneft" fuel station near the military airfield in the Murmansk region, from where the drones were launched. Other drivers provided similar accounts.
Operation "Spiderweb"
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) conducted a large-scale special operation "to destroy enemy bomber aircraft deep within Russian territory."
The operation required precise logistical planning. The SBU transported FPV drones to Russia, hidden in mobile wooden houses on trucks. At the opportune moment, the roofs of the houses were remotely opened, allowing the drones to take off and attack Russian bombers. Ukrainian sources emphasize that those involved in the operation have long since returned to the country.
Operation "Spiderweb" targeted four key Russian air bases: Belaya, Dyagilevo, Olenya, and Ivanovo.
Strategic aircraft, including long-range bombers Tu-95 and Tu-22M3, as well as an A-50 early warning aircraft, were destroyed. The attack on the Belaya base in the Irkutsk region, over 2,500 miles from Ukraine, marked the first instance of a Ukrainian drone appearing in this area.
