Ukraine destroys 40 aircraft deep inside Russia ahead of peace talks in Istanbul

 

Ukrainian Drone Strike Destroys Over 40 Russian Aircraft as Peace Talks Loom

Ukraine’s Security Service announced Sunday that a major drone strike deep inside Russian territory had destroyed more than 40 military aircraft. The strike came just hours before a new round of peace talks between Ukraine and Russia was scheduled to begin in Istanbul.

A Ukrainian military official, speaking anonymously to The Associated Press, described the complex, long-planned operation as personally overseen by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. According to the official, the attack took over 18 months to plan and execute.

In his nightly address, Zelenskyy said 117 drones were used in the strike. He added that the mission was coordinated from an office located next to a local branch of Russia’s FSB intelligence agency. The operation, dubbed “Web,” involved the covert transport of FPV (first-person view) drones into Russia, where they were hidden inside mobile wooden houses mounted on trucks. The drones were concealed under retractable roofs, which were opened remotely to launch the attack.

Footage shared by Russian media appeared to show drones launching from containers, with other debris scattered on nearby roads. One video showed individuals attempting to manually interfere with the drones mid-launch.

Strategic Aircraft Targeted

The Ukrainian drones struck 41 planes at multiple Russian air bases on Sunday afternoon. Among the aircraft hit were A-50 radar planes and Tupolev Tu-95 and Tu-22M bombers—key components of Russia’s long-range missile strike capabilities.

Ukraine’s Security Service estimated the damage at $7 billion and claimed that 34% of Russia’s strategic missile-carrying fleet was destroyed. These claims have not yet been independently verified.

Russia’s Defense Ministry acknowledged the attacks, confirming damage to aircraft and fires at air bases in the Irkutsk region—over 4,000 kilometers (2,500 miles) from Ukraine—and in the northern Murmansk region. The ministry added that additional drone strikes were repelled in the Amur, Ivanovo, and Ryazan regions.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was briefed on the incident during a stop at Nellis Air Force Base. A senior U.S. defense official said the U.S. had not been informed in advance of the strike and noted that the operation demonstrated a level of sophistication not previously seen from Ukraine.

Rail Explosions Add to Chaos

Separately on Sunday, Russia’s Investigative Committee reported that two train derailments in western Russia killed at least seven people and injured dozens. The incidents, initially attributed to explosions, caused the collapse of two bridges. However, official statements were later edited to remove mention of explosions, and the cause remains unclear.

Drone Strike Coincides with Peace Talks

The dramatic escalation came as President Zelenskyy confirmed that a Ukrainian delegation would travel to Istanbul on Monday for a new round of peace talks with Russia. Ukraine’s Defense Minister Rustem Umerov will lead the delegation.

“We are doing everything to protect our independence, our state, and our people,” Zelenskyy stated on Telegram. Ukrainian officials previously requested that Russia provide a formal memorandum outlining its position ahead of the talks. Moscow has indicated it will share its proposal during the meeting.

Russia Launches Record Drone Barrage

Meanwhile, Ukraine’s air force reported that Russia launched a record-breaking 472 drones—the largest drone assault since the war began in February 2022—alongside seven missiles. The drone barrage targeted infrastructure and military sites across Ukraine.

One of the missile strikes hit a Ukrainian army training unit, killing at least 12 service members and wounding over 60, according to Ukraine’s military. The attack prompted the resignation of Commander Mykhailo Drapatyi, a highly regarded officer credited with leading successful operations in eastern Ukraine during the 2022 counteroffensive.

The targeted unit was located behind Ukraine’s 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) active front line. Despite efforts to avoid troop concentrations, Russian reconnaissance and strike drones continue to pose a serious threat throughout the area, where Ukrainian forces are already stretched thin.