Russia releases truck drivers detained over Ukraine’s Operation Spiderweb, citing insufficient evidence

The men drove trucks that unknowingly transported concealed Ukrainian drones used in the June 1 operation. Russian investigators had accused them of belonging to a group recruited by Ukraine’s Security Service, or SBU, and charged them with terrorism and transporting explosives.

The drivers denied involvement, saying they considered themselves Russian patriots and had called police and even tried to shoot down the drones after they began launching from their trucks.

Russia’s Prosecutor General’s Office declined to approve the charges because it considered the evidence insufficient, and the Moscow City Court did not extend the men’s detention.

Operation Spiderweb, prepared by the SBU for more than a year and a half, involved smuggling FPV drones into Russia and concealing them inside prefabricated wooden structures transported by trucks. Their roofs were remotely opened near Russian airfields, allowing the drones to launch and attack military aircraft.

The Wall Street Journal previously reported that the operation nearly unraveled when one driver discovered drones inside his truck while trying to repair its sliding roof. He was told that the drones and wooden structures were intended for monitoring wildlife at hunting grounds.