Ukraine launches massive drone strikes on Russian airbases, war escalates

Ukraine on Sunday launched a sweeping series of drone strikes targeting air bases across Russia: from eastern Siberia to the western border. The coordinated assault marked one of the most extensive long-range operations by Ukraine since the war began in February 2022.

According to Russia’s Defense Ministry, the Ukrainian drones targeted airfields in five different regions, spanning five time zones. Fires broke out at multiple sites, including the Olenya base in Murmansk and the Belaya air base in Irkutsk – the latter marking the first known Ukrainian drone attack deep into Siberia. While the ministry claimed several attacks were repelled and no casualties reported, footage verified by The New York Times confirmed drones launched near the Belaya base, showing rising smoke and burning launch containers.

An anonymous Ukrainian intelligence official stated that dozens of aircraft were damaged and that the drones had been smuggled into Russia and launched from nearby trucks – a claim not independently verified. President Volodymyr Zelensky praised the operation as “absolutely brilliant,” saying it had been in planning for over 18 months.

Russian military bloggers reacted with alarm. A prominent Telegram channel, Fighterbomber, described Sunday as a “black day” for Russia’s long-range aviation, underscoring the vulnerabilities in its air defense network.

In a blow to Ukraine on the same day, Russia launched a missile strike on a military training base in Ukraine’s Dnipro region, killing at least 12 soldiers and wounding more than 60. The attack prompted the resignation of Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi, commander of Ukraine’s ground forces, who accepted personal responsibility for the incident.

The violence unfolded just before new cease-fire talks scheduled for Monday in Istanbul. Despite previously demanding a memorandum from Moscow before participating, Kyiv confirmed it would send a delegation led by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov.

Earlier Sunday, Ukraine’s Air Force said Russia had launched its largest combined aerial assault to date, with 472 drones and seven missiles. While most were intercepted, at least 18 targets were hit, including homes in the Kyiv region and infrastructure in central and northeastern Ukraine.

As both sides brace for another round of diplomacy, the weekend’s events highlight the deepening intensity of the conflict and the widening reach of Ukraine’s capabilities inside Russian territory.