The Russian Interior Ministry has put a man named Artyom Timofeev, who is believed to be involved in the Ukrainian operation "Spiderweb" - attacks on strategic military facilities in Russia - on the wanted list. The information was published in the department's database, indicating that Timofeev is wanted under an article of the Criminal Code, without specifying the exact legal qualification.
According to TASS sources in law enforcement agencies, Timofeev is suspected of coordinating or providing technical support for the attacks on Russian air bases carried out as part of an operation codenamed "Spiderweb". A number of Russian and Ukrainian sources indicate that the operation was prepared in a deep conspiracy, with an innovative scheme for covert positioning and launching of drones playing a key role in it.
The "mobile home" scheme: drones hidden in trucks
The essence of operation "Spiderweb" is in an extremely cunning logistical deception. According to the investigations, commercial trucks were used, which were officially transporting mobile homes - a common sight on intercity roads. In reality, the interior of some of them was converted to function as a platform for launching FPV (first-person video-controlled) strike drones.
The drones were launched from positions close to the targets - strategic bombers Tu-95 and Tu-22, located in Siberia and the Russian North. The strikes were carried out on June 1 and have caused serious concern in the Kremlin, as they target elements of Russia's nuclear triad. The truck drivers may not have known about the scheme and had no way to prevent it once it was launched.
Disappearance and suspicions
Artyom Timofeev, who is believed to have played a logistical role in the cover-up and transportation of the mobile launchers, left Russia before the attacks, independent sources reported on Telegram. According to preliminary data, he was the owner or manager of a transport services company whose equipment could have been used in the operation without attracting attention.
Political and military resonance
Operation "Spiderweb" has caused strong diplomatic and military reactions. According to the press secretary of the Russian President Dmitry Peskov, Vladimir Putin told US President Donald Trump in a telephone conversation that Moscow reserves the right to respond whenever and however it sees fit. The Kremlin expressed regret that Washington has not issued a categorical condemnation of the attacks.
Anonymous sources cited by the Axios portal claim that Trump was not informed in advance about the operation, but in private conversations he called it "powerful" and "impressive". This further complicates his position between striving for a diplomatic solution to the conflict and accepting actions that Russia interprets as terrorist.