Artem Tymofieiev: How 'Spider Web' mastermind carried out daring drone strikes on Russian bombers

Ever since Ukraine carried out an unprecedented drone attack on Russia's Olenya and Belaya air bases on June 1, one name has been doing rounds in Moscow's intelligence circles: Artem Tymofieiev.

Tymofieiev is a Ukrainian secret agent who is among the most wanted among Kremlin's hit list. His name and photo has been circulated on Russian media.

The lethal drone attacks were carried out across three time zones and several thousands of miles from Kyiv. The strike has destroyed 34 per cent of Russia's heavy bombers and incurred $7 billion worth of losses.

How did Artem Tymofieiev carry out the attack?

Tymofieiev, who was born in Zhytomyr, Ukraine, was residing in Ukraine before he moved to Russia's Chelyabinsk to work as an "entrepreneur", reports Daily Mail. He reportedly employed four truck drivers who unwittingly transported wooden framed houses to specific locations. All the trucks were registered in his name, according to Russian sources. The Ukrainian Secret Service SBU said the drones were hidden under the house roofs.

The trucks went to four locations: Siberia's Irkutsk that houses the Belaya airfield, Murmansk near Arctic Circle which is home to the Olenya air base, Ryazan where Diaghilev air base is located and Ivanovo which is close to another base, reported Daily Mail.

The report said one of the drivers, Alexander Z, who was in Murmansk was asked to park near the Rosneft petrol station next to Olenya air base. Another driver, Andrei M, was told to halt near Teremok cafe in Usolye-Sibirskoye, which is next to Belaya air base, it added. Soon the truck roofs were opened remotely and the drones were launched from inside at all four locations simultaneously. Each air base is said to be attacked by around 30 drones that were deployed at the same time.

The Russian defence ministry confirmed that its planes were damaged only in Olenya and Belaya while attacks in other locations were thwarted.