Ukraine launches major drone attack on Russian bombers, security official says

 

Ukraine Launches Devastating Drone Strikes on Russian Airbases Ahead of Peace Talks

Ukraine has carried out a large-scale drone operation targeting Russian military airbases deep in Siberia, hitting more than 40 warplanes, including strategic bombers used to launch missile attacks on Ukrainian cities. The strikes come just ahead of planned peace negotiations in Istanbul, amid a sharp escalation in cross-border hostilities by both sides.

A senior Ukrainian security official said the drones, which had been smuggled into Russia and hidden in wooden sheds near airfields, were launched in a coordinated assault on four separate bases. The attack reportedly damaged or destroyed numerous Tu-95 and Tu-22 bombers—aircraft critical to Russia’s long-range strike capabilities.

Videos circulating online show massive fires and destroyed planes at several airbases, though the full scale of the damage has not been independently verified. If confirmed, the attack would represent the most damaging Ukrainian drone strike of the war so far.

Ukraine’s SBU intelligence agency estimated the losses at $7 billion, describing the operation as a major blow to Russia’s strategic aviation forces. The operation, codenamed "Spiderweb," had been in the works for over 18 months, according to Ukrainian sources. The drones were concealed beneath shed roofs mounted on trucks, which were driven to the outskirts of Russian airfields. A remote mechanism opened the sheds, allowing the drones to launch undetected.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed Ukraine's involvement, stating, “We had been preparing the operation for more than a year and a half. The planning, execution, and details were flawless. This was a truly unique mission.” He added that the team behind the operation had already safely withdrawn from Russian territory.

Zelenskyy said 117 drones were launched in total, with 34% of Russia’s strategic missile carriers at the targeted airfields reportedly hit. Ukrainian operatives carried out the mission across three Russian time zones. Supporting evidence, including photos of the drones and launch mechanisms, was shared by Ukrainian security officials.

Footage from Russian Telegram channels also showed sheds on trucks, with their roofs removed and drones launching into the sky. In one video from a burning airfield in Olenegorsk, a Russian serviceman is heard saying, “It’s fucked here,” as bombers burn in the background.

Despite being heavily outgunned since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, Ukraine has increasingly relied on innovative drone technology to strike Russian military and energy infrastructure. The Belaya airbase in Irkutsk oblast—one of the sites hit—is located over 2,500 miles from Ukrainian territory.

Russia’s defense ministry confirmed that several aircraft “caught fire” during the attacks on bases in Murmansk and Irkutsk regions. It claimed there were no casualties but said multiple suspects had been detained in connection with the incident.

Meanwhile, Russia has accused Ukraine of orchestrating sabotage attacks on its railway infrastructure. Two train derailments in the border regions of Kursk and Bryansk overnight left at least seven people dead and dozens injured. Investigators blamed explosions for the collapses of two railway bridges and are treating them as acts of terrorism. Another railway line in Bryansk was also damaged, though no injuries were reported.

These incidents come as Ukraine's air force reported Russia had launched 472 drones—the highest number in a single night so far—along with seven missiles. A separate Russian missile strike on a Ukrainian training facility killed 12 service members and injured over 60 others, according to Ukraine’s military.

After initially hesitating to participate, Ukraine has confirmed it will send a delegation to the upcoming peace talks in Istanbul. Zelenskyy said Defence Minister Rustem Umerov will lead the team, and outlined Kyiv’s position: an unconditional ceasefire, the return of all prisoners and abducted children, and no restrictions on Ukraine’s military development.

According to Reuters, Ukraine’s proposal includes refusing to recognize Russian sovereignty over any occupied territory, insisting on reparations, and starting talks based on the current frontlines. It would also oppose any limits on Ukraine’s military capabilities.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump has applied pressure on both sides to reach a resolution, threatening to withdraw American support if no progress is made—potentially leaving Ukraine increasingly reliant on European allies.

In contrast, Russian President Vladimir Putin has reiterated demands for Ukraine to abandon its NATO aspirations and withdraw all troops from the four occupied regions claimed by Moscow—conditions Ukraine continues to reject.