Hungover Russians may have saved Moscow from ‘Pearl Harbor-style’ Ukraine attack: Report

A satellite view shows military aircraft, some sitting destroyed, at the Belaya air base, near Stepnoy, Irkutsk region, Russia, June 4, 2025, after Ukraine launched a drone attack, dubbed "Operation Spider's Web", targeting Russian strategic bombers during Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine. (REUTERS)

Ukraine’s audacious “Pearl Harbor”-style drone strike on Russia’s strategic bomber fleet nearly unravelled before it even began, thanks to an unexpected problem: hungover Russian drivers.

According to a Wall Street Journal report, Kyiv had planned to launch the covert assault around Russia’s Victory Day on May 9, hoping to humiliate the Kremlin during a major national celebration. The plan involved secretly moving dozens of drones deep into Russian territory using unwitting local truck drivers.

But the timing backfired. Victory Day celebrations, coupled with Labour Day and Orthodox Easter, meant fewer drivers were willing or able to work. Many had taken the day off, and those available were considered unreliable. Ukrainian security officials told the WSJ that the shortage made the operation too risky to execute at the time.

Under Operation Spider’s Web, the Security Service of Ukraine, or SBU, relied on Russian drivers who believed they were transporting mobile wooden cabins. The drones were hidden inside these structures, which were then driven to locations near key Russian airfields.

It was only towards the end of May that Ukrainian operatives found what they believed was a safe group of drivers. The mission finally went ahead in early July, culminating on July 1, when 41 Russian bombers and other warplanes were reportedly damaged or destroyed at four airfields located thousands of kilometres from Ukraine.

Even then, the operation faced repeated close calls. During one journey, a driver noticed that the roof of a wooden cabin had come loose. Inside, he spotted the concealed drones. Alarmed, he phoned his employer for answers.

The call went to Artem Timofeev, a 37-year-old former Ukrainian DJ living in Russia, who, along with his wife, had helped assemble the cabins and drones for the mission. With real-time guidance from the SBU, Timofeev claimed the equipment was meant for hunting. According to the WSJ, the driver accepted the explanation, fixed the roof, and continued his route.

Elsewhere, a truck broke down mid-journey, forcing the cargo to be discreetly transferred to another vehicle. In another incident, Ukrainian handlers lost communication with two drone-filled cabins due to poor connectivity. They attempted to guide a Russian driver to fix the issue, without him knowing what he was actually handling.

When the driver suddenly stopped responding, Ukrainian officials feared the mission had been exposed. Later, online images and reports showed the cargo had caught fire, triggering an explosion that killed the driver, the WSJ reported.

Despite the missteps, delays and near-disasters, Operation Spider’s Web ultimately went ahead as planned. Ukrainian officials have described it as a major success, dealing a significant blow to Russia’s long-range bomber fleet.