The Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) has proven by the Operation “Spiderweb” that the war is inflicting tangible losses and damage on the aggressor as well. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated this during a meeting with SSU warriors who took part in the operation and thanked them for carrying it out.
The Head of State noted that Ukraine never wanted this war, but it has every right to defend itself, its independence, and its people.
“That is exactly what we are doing – by all means available to us. This right is guaranteed to Ukraine by international law, by the UN Charter, and by simple human common sense,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
According to the President, Russia has used thousands of missiles and attack drones against Ukraine, including strategic aviation; it also has entered into alliances with North Korea and Iran, and is using their weapons against Ukraine: ballistic missiles, attack drones, and artillery. In addition, North Korean special forces are fighting on Russia’s side.
“The most important thing that you’ve proven by Operation ‘Spiderweb’ is this: the war is inflicting tangible losses and damage on the aggressor as well. And this is justice being restored. And this is pressure toward real peace. Russia feels what it is doing and what it is accountable for only when you and our other warriors act.
For the successful execution of this operation, the Head of State presented the Order of the Golden Star of the Hero of Ukraine to one of the warriors, as well as the awards “Cross of Military Merit,” the Orders of Merit, III class, of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, II–III class, for Courage, III class, of Princess Olga, III class, and the medals “For Military Service to Ukraine”.
On June 1, the SSU conducted the unique special operation “Spiderweb” on Russian territory, which had been in preparation for over a year and a half. As a result, 41 military aircraft were damaged, which is 34% of Russia’s strategic cruise missile carriers based at airfields. Among them were Tu-22M3, Tu-95MC, and Tu-95 bombers used to launch cruise missiles at Ukraine, as well as A-50 long-range airborne early warning and control aircraft. The estimated value of the damaged strategic aviation aircraft exceeds USD 7 billion.