VLADIMIR Putin’s goons have pointed to a Ukrainian ex-DJ as being the spy behind the incredible Operation Spiderweb.
The precision strike conducted on Sunday against four airfields situated deep within Russian territory has dealt a significant blow to the Russian leadership, resulting in the destruction of a substantial portion of the country’s nuclear bombers.
Desperate to save face, Russian war bloggers have named the man they think ran Ukraine’s operation inside the the country as Artem Timofeev.
Artem, 37, is a former Ukrainian DJ and is believed by the sleuths to have owned the lorries used to carry the containers to the strikes.
The drivers who were allegedly involved in transporting the crates were later identified and found by bloggers to have shared consistent accounts, mentioning they received directives from someone named “Artem,” according to the Daily Mail.
They appeared to have thought they were transporting wooden frame houses, but instead they moved kamikaze drones into strike position.
One pro-Russian blogger said: “Artem is now wanted in connection with a terrorist attack in Irkutsk region.
“Four lorries were registered in his name, and one of them was the source of the drones that launched [in an attack on a Putin airbase].”
Artem’s wife Ekaterina Timofeeva, 34, is also suspected to have aided him.
According to pro-Kremlin Russian media, Ekaterina describes herself as a “witch” and is the author of B-list erotic novels.
A flat in Chelyabinsk has been linked by bloggers to the pair and where Artem was reportedly seen just a week ago.
But he is now likely out of the country – with Volodymyr Zelensky saying all those involved with the op had been extracted.
Putin’s doomsday bomber fleet is now crippled with 41, or a third, of his most prized aircraft lying in smouldering wrecks on tarmac.
The bombers were capable of shooting non-nuclear missiles and bombs and had been terrorising Ukraine doing so.
Ukraine said the sneak attack was worth $7bn (£5.2bn) in damage to Russia – caused by only 117 cheaply made drones.
Ukraine’s spies spent 18 months putting the plan into action – targeting five Russian bases.
Russian sources said Artem had moved to the Russian city of Chelyabinsk several years ago and worked as a businessman.
Reportedly, in December, “Artem” initiated a haulage company and operated multiple trucks, which served as an ideal facade to discreetly reposition the crates.
Zelensky said the drivers were led far away from their vehicles and Russian authorities are yet to announce if they have made any arrests.
Driver Andrei M is said to have told Russian investigators that he was told to park at a cafe next to Belaya base.
Almost as soon as he stopped, the roof was remotely opened and the drones began to fly out.
The nondescript shipping containers parked in laybys and verges had attracted little attention.
But on the morning of June 1, their lids blew open and the drone swarms poured out.
Russian civilians stood in awe as they saw the drones zoom out of the containers and head in the direction of the airbase.
Ukraine’s kamikaze drones then filmed themselves flying through the airfields and striking down at the planes – destroying them.
Hapless Russian soldiers tried to stop the incoming attack with anti-drone guns, but there were simply too many of them.
Satellite pictures released following the operation show smouldering wrecks collapsed onto the runways.
Thick black smoke climbed high, with civilians near the bases sending video of Ukraine’s successes around the world.
Zelensky touted the operation as “historic” and revealed he had overseen Operation Spiderweb.
The valiant leader said: “What’s most interesting, and this can now be stated publicly, is that the ‘office’ of our operation on Russian territory was located directly next to FSB headquarters in one of their regions.”
