A real drama unfolded in a Moscow court on 16 September when four long-distance lorry drivers, accused of complicity in a daring operation by the Ukrainian Security Service, were released. They were accused of allegedly helping the Ukrainian security services to smuggle drones deep into Russia, intended for attacks on strategically important military airfields. The scandalous case, known as Operation ‘Spider’s Web’, caused a widespread public outcry, but the court found insufficient grounds to convict them.
According to the prosecution, the accused — Andrei Merkuriev, Alexander Zaitsev, Mikhail Ryumin and Sergei Kanurin — were allegedly transporting components for prefabricated houses in their lorries, inside which the drones were concealed. These drones, according to the investigation, subsequently attacked Russian military installations at airfields in several regions, including Irkutsk and Murmansk, destroying a significant number of strategic aircraft.
However, the drivers categorically denied any involvement. They claimed that they were on routine journeys and were unaware of the hidden drones. At the time of the attack, they even tried to shoot them down and immediately called the police. Their defence was based on these statements and the lack of direct evidence of guilt.
Russia’s Investigative Committee concluded its investigation and forwarded the case files to the Prosecutor General’s Office, hoping to extend the detentions. However, First Deputy Prosecutor General Anton Razinkin ordered the case to be returned for further investigation, noting a lack of evidence. The court, in turn, rejected the application to extend the detention and ordered the lorry drivers to be released.
This story attracted the attention of the international media, particularly following statements by the Ukrainian side regarding the destruction of 41 Russian aircraft, including strategic bombers. Western intelligence services and publications, such as The New York Times and Reuters, also covered the incident, suggesting that up to 20 aircraft may have been destroyed. However, the exact figures remain a matter of dispute.
The trial and the release of the drivers leave many questions unanswered, highlighting the complexity and political tension surrounding this incident. Further legal proceedings and investigations may lie ahead, which could shed light on the true circumstances of this mysterious operation.