Ukraine has launched a massive drone assault deep inside Russian territory, damaging more than 40 bomber aircraft.
Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) said strikes targeted multiple Russian air bases, including key installations in the Arctic region, with footage released showing explosions and thick smoke at the Belaya airbase in Irkutsk, Siberia.
“Enemy strategic bombers are burning en masse in Russia,” the SBU stated, describing the attack as a “large-scale special operation” aimed at crippling Moscow’s long-range strike capabilities.
Russian state media acknowledged drone attacks on the air bases in both Irkutsk and Murmansk but claimed that most of the incoming drones were intercepted.
Despite this, images released by officials in Irkutsk’s Sredny village showed heavy smoke rising from a military site.
The Ukrainian drone barrage coincided with a massive Russian aerial attack on the country.
According to Ukraine, its air defence intercepted 385 out of 472 drones and seven ballistic and cruise missiles launched by Russia overnight, making it the largest drone attack Ukraine has faced in a single night.
The escalation comes ahead of planned peace talks in Istanbul. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that Ukraine’s delegation is heading to Turkey with the goal of securing a “complete and unconditional ceasefire”.
According to the BBC, Russian negotiators have also reportedly departed for the talks in order to find an end to the war that has lasted for three years.
