Ukraine has carried out a sweeping drone offensive deep inside Russian territory, reportedly damaging or destroying military aircraft worth an estimated $7 billion. Described as one of the boldest attacks of the war, the operation struck multiple airbases thousands of kilometres from the front lines, just days before high-stakes ceasefire talks in Istanbul.
On Sunday, June 1, Ukrainian officials called the assault a “large-scale” mission aimed at disabling Russia’s long-range bombers. A source from Ukraine’s SBU security service said drones targeted bases in Belaya (Siberia), Olenya (near the Finnish border in the Arctic), and Ivanovo and Dyagilevo (east of Moscow). The Belaya airbase was reportedly the most heavily hit, with over 40 aircraft damaged and fires engulfing parts of the facility.
Footage circulating online showed aircraft in flames and thick smoke billowing into the sky. While AFP could not independently verify the videos, Russia’s Ministry of Defence confirmed that several planes had caught fire and claimed some suspects were in custody.
Regional authorities acknowledged the strikes. Igor Kobzev, governor of Russia’s Irkutsk region, confirmed the first-ever drone attack on Siberian soil. Murmansk governor Andrey Chibis also reported that air defences had engaged “enemy drones” over the Arctic region.
The attack marks a significant escalation in Ukraine’s long-range strike capability. Until now, drone attacks had largely focused on areas near the front.
However, Ukraine also suffered a heavy blow over the weekend. A Russian missile strike on a Ukrainian training unit killed at least 12 soldiers and wounded over 60. Most victims were reportedly sheltering at the time. The incident led to the resignation of Ukraine’s Ground Forces Commander, Mykhailo Drapaty, who accepted responsibility for the tragic loss.
In response, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Defence Minister Rustem Umerov would lead Ukraine’s delegation to ceasefire talks in Istanbul. Zelensky reiterated Ukraine’s demands: an unconditional ceasefire, the return of prisoners of war, and the repatriation of children taken to Russia. While skeptical of Russia’s intentions, Zelensky said Ukraine would attend with a clear position.
Russia confirmed it would also send a delegation but withheld details of its terms. President Vladimir Putin rejected Turkey’s proposal to elevate the talks to the heads-of-state level.
Meanwhile, intense fighting continued on the ground. Russia claimed to have captured a village in Ukraine’s northern Sumy region, where over 50,000 Russian troops are reportedly massed. Zelensky warned of a potential large-scale ground assault and announced the evacuation of more than 200 villages in the area.
Inside Russia, two major bridge collapses over the weekend further raised tensions. In Bryansk, an explosion brought down a road bridge, derailing a passenger train and killing seven people. Hours later, a freight train was derailed on a rail bridge in Kursk following another blast. Authorities are investigating both incidents as acts of terrorism but have not named any suspects.
Adding to the escalation, Ukraine reported the highest number of Russian aerial attacks since the war began. The Ukrainian Air Force said 472 drones and seven missiles were launched overnight in a record-breaking wave of strikes.
These developments underscore the rapidly intensifying nature of the conflict as both sides prepare for ceasefire talks that could shape the next phase of the war.