Zelensky emphasized: “If Russia had agreed to a ceasefire, there would be no ‘Web’ operation
" Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky openly stated that the strategic operation to destroy Russian aviation, known by the codename "Web," would have been impossible if an agreement on a ceasefire had been reached. In his briefing speech, the head of state underscored that if Moscow had agreed to an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire, Ukrainian forces would not have carried out this large-scale sabotage operation against Russian aircraft. Zelensky's direct quote was: "If Russia had agreed to a ceasefire, the 'Web' operation simply could not have happened. This is quite logical. After all, executing such a large-scale operation as ours would have been impossible if the enemy adhered to the agreements. Therefore, a ceasefire is one of the key factors, but not the only one, in our strategy of defense and response to aggression." The president emphasized that Ukraine does not leave Russia's actions without proper response and will not tolerate their impunity. "We believe that rules of the game must be the same for everyone. If the conditions of the ceasefire are violated, we have the right to act according to our rules. This is our principle and our strategic approach," Zelensky declared, stressing that he would under no circumstances allow the aggressor to violate the principles of diplomacy and military conduct with impunity. Another important news is the formal recognition of high-ranking officials — Zelensky noted that officers of the Security Service of Ukraine received a classified order for conducting the "Web" operation on Russian territory, which has become one of the most successful special operations against Russian military aviation in recent years. Zelensky reported that as a result of this sabotage, 41 Russian aircraft of various types were struck: strategic bombers Tu-95, Tu-22M3, Tu-160, as well as the A-50 AEW aircraft. According to him, nearly half of the damaged aircraft — over 20 planes — will later become inoperable. This indicates they suffered serious damage and will have to be decommissioned sooner or later. The head of state stated that this result is so successful and significant that it is also recognized by foreign allies and NATO. According to their assessment, “Web” became one of the most impressive and strategically important operations in Ukraine’s modern history of fighting Russia. The background of this large-scale strike was the operation carried out on June 1, 2025, which is considered one of the largest and most complex sabotage operations in the modern military history of independent Ukraine. According to Ukrainian intelligence, more than 40 Russian aircraft, including strategic bombers Tu-95, Tu-22M3, Tu-160, as well as the multifunctional long-range radar detection aircraft A-50, were damaged or destroyed during this operation. Western countries and NATO members separately recognized "Web" as the most successful among all recent operations against Russian aviation, emphasizing that at least 40 aircraft were destroyed or damaged as a result. Analysts estimate that approximately 10-13 of these aircraft were neutralized, and most notably — the so-called "flying" bombers and other strategic aircraft lost part of their potential or were permanently taken out of service. The conclusions of Ukrainian authorities and allies are clear: the success of the operation confirms the correctness of the chosen tactics and demands the unwavering continuation of active measures in response to Russia’s aggression. Meanwhile, Ukraine continues to strengthen its positions and demonstrates the capacity to counter the armed direct challenges of the aggressor, employing modern and highly effective methods of warfare.