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A man has been a persistent concern for the Russian security agencies, the FSB and GRU, since last week, following Ukraine’s remarkably innovative drone strike on five military installations deep within Russia, damaging long-range aircraft of Putin’s Air Force. Artem Timofeev, a 37-year-old DJ, is reportedly an agent for the SBU (Ukrainian Security Service) who orchestrated the “Spider’s Web” operation that commenced on Sunday, June 1.
Timofeev and his wife, Katya Timofeeva, who also took part in the operation, have since disappeared from their Chelyabinsk neighborhood, where they had rented an apartment for over five years. Though they appeared to be an ordinary couple, Timofeev had been planning a significant operation for the past 18 months that severely marred Putin’s reputation by destroying numerous long-range bombers and radar aircraft.
Some Russian media outlets describe him as a “wolf in sheep’s clothing,” living a seemingly mundane life until June 1—working, socializing, and maintaining a low profile. It took approximately 48 hours for FSB agents to identify the man behind Ukraine’s most audacious offensive on Russian soil.
"The Ghost of Zhytomyr"
Since his name and photo were leaked to pro-Kremlin media, very little information has emerged about Artem Timofeev. This indicates that the 37-year-old SBU agent had been extremely cautious following his relocation to Russia, implementing extensive security measures to ensure he could act at the right moment after creating an impeccable cover.
Limited details paint Timofeev as a young entrepreneur from Zhytomyr, Ukraine (some sources suggest Irkutsk), who relocated with many relatives from Kyiv. It is believed he was recruited by the SBU between 2010 and 2012, during a period when he was actively engaged in music as a DJ and had launched a clothing line.
Western intelligence officials refer to him as “The Ghost of Zhytomyr” because his identity and activities were known to only a select few within the SBU. Even after the attack, only scant traces of him were discovered.
The circumstances of how he met his wife Katya remain unclear, including whether she was an SBU agent beforehand or recruited by Artem afterward. When they settled in Chelyabinsk, Russian authorities paid little heed to a Ukrainian couple moving in with relatives. However, after the bold strike, authorities are now using every available resource to find the 37-year-old spy who inflicted significant damage on the Russian military.
Routes Through Kazakhstan
Looking at photos of Artem Timofeev—dressed casually in a beanie—it’s hard to picture him as the man who had set up a trucking company six months prior to the operation. He founded it in October 2024, seven months ahead of the “Spider’s Web” launch after an extensive preparation period.
Timofeev acquired the drones through a logistics company operating routes into Russia via Kazakhstan, which was secure and isolated. A total of 117 drones were used, each piloted by a skilled operator who entered Russia through various border areas.
As is standard in such operations, drone operators were briefed on their specific targets just one or two days before the assault. Western intelligence circles suspect that Mossad had a strong influence, suggesting Ukraine likely wouldn’t have executed such a high-level attack without outside assistance.
It appears almost certain that Israeli experts, well-versed in covert operations, helped conceive this ambitious strike deep within Russia. Even if executed flawlessly by Timofeev and his team, including his wife, the complexity of the operation suggests it could not have originated solely from the SBU.
Zero Hour
Katya Timofeeva’s literary output is modest, reportedly having penned two low-quality romantic novels under the pseudonym Katerina Gato. The first was titled “I Was Happy Because You Hated Me,” while the second, “I Turned Evil Because You Loved Me,” lacked originality.
The pro-Kremlin site Readovka noted the latter title was oddly prophetic, stating: “Katya escaped with her beloved. Artem is now wanted in connection to the terrorist attack in the Irkutsk region.” Two weeks before the assault, Katya erased her online presence by deleting social media accounts and erasing digital footprints. Their Chelyabinsk apartment was subsequently searched by FSB teams for any clues, while relatives were interrogated, reportedly shocked by the couple’s hidden lives.
Just hours after the surprise attack within Russia, the SBU declared that all operatives involved had safely exited the territory, avoiding any threats.
Strike at the Heart
On June 1, personnel at five major military bases in Russia experienced an unprecedented Ukrainian drone onslaught—massive in scale and months in preparation. Reports revealed that 117 drones targeted airbases housing long-range bombers capable of carrying nuclear armaments.
The drones were remotely operated by a team of pilots—possibly via satellite, although internet control wasn’t ruled out. The full extent of Operation “Spider’s Web” came into focus as explosions were reported across multiple Russian time zones, from Murmansk near the Arctic Circle to the Amur region far to the east—8,000 km from Ukraine.
Russia’s Ministry of Defense confirmed attacks in five regions but claimed that damage was only done in Murmansk and Irkutsk, asserting that other strikes were thwarted. Shortly after, images surfaced showing SBU chief Vasyl Maliuk analyzing a satellite map of Russian airfields, clearly marked for targeting. He stated that the drones had been smuggled into Russia, hidden within wooden cabins in trucks, covered by detachable remote-controlled roofs. The trucks were driven close to airbases—often by drivers unaware of their cargo, as confirmed by later investigations.
The drones successfully struck 41 long-range aircraft, including Tu-95, Tu-22M3, Tu-160 bombers, and A-50 radar planes. Russia, however, acknowledged only limited damage without providing exact figures—understandably.
The Russian Response
Throughout history, whenever Russia suffers significant blows to its image, authorities tend to conceal or downplay the incident—especially when it occurs on home soil.
As such, they haven’t disclosed how many aircraft were hit. Nevertheless, Western intelligence analysts confirmed that at least 13 aircraft were destroyed or damaged. The intelligence outlet The Insider noted that the Ukrainian drone strike unveiled severe security vulnerabilities within Russia’s military infrastructure.
The fact that the trucks were driven by unsuspecting operators emphasizes the exceptional level of planning and compartmentalization involved. The FSB and GRU were entirely unprepared for such an intense internal attack, resulting in a significant loss of credibility—comparable to how the CIA failed to foresee the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.
The remarkable ease with which Artem Timofeev and his team infiltrated Russia for such a complex operation raises serious questions about the effectiveness and vigilance of both the FSB and GRU.
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