Key Points
- Ukraine conducted its largest-ever drone attack on June 1, targeting four Russian airbases and reportedly damaging or destroying over 40 military aircraft, including strategic bombers and an A-50 AWACS.
- The operation, led by Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU), struck deep into Russian territory reaching as far as Belaya airbase in Siberia, over 4,000 km from the front lines.
- Dramatic footage and satellite images show Russian bombers engulfed in flames; Russia has not confirmed the full extent of the losses.
- Russia retaliated with missile strikes on Ukrainian targets and claimed to have destroyed drone launch sites and UAVs in the Kharkov region.
- Separate explosions collapsed two bridges in Russia’s Bryansk and Kursk regions near the Ukrainian border, killing at least seven and injuring over 70, further escalating tensions ahead of planned peace talks in Istanbul.
- The attacks mark a significant escalation in Ukraine’s ability to strike strategic Russian assets far from the battlefield, signaling a new phase in the conflict.
Kyiv/Moscow: The Russia-Ukraine war has entered a dramatic new phase after Ukraine launched its most ambitious drone offensive yet, striking four key Russian airbases and reportedly damaging or destroying more than 40 military aircraft, including some of Moscow’s most advanced long-range bombers. The operation, described by Ukrainian officials as a turning point in the conflict, delivered a powerful blow to Russia’s strategic aviation just hours before a new round of peace talks was set to begin in Istanbul.
Details of the Drone Offensive
According to Ukrainian security sources, the coordinated attack was executed by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and targeted four major Russian airfields: Belaya (Irkutsk region, Siberia), Dyagilevo (Ryazan region), Ivanovo, and Olenya (Murmansk region). These bases are home to Russia’s Tu-95 and Tu-22M3 bombers, which are routinely used to launch missile strikes on Ukrainian cities, as well as the A-50 airborne early warning aircraft.
The drones, many of which were reportedly smuggled into Russia and positioned near the airfields in advance, struck deep behind enemy lines—Belaya airbase alone is over 4,000 km from Ukraine’s border. Videos and satellite images released by Ukrainian sources show multiple large aircraft, including Tu-95 bombers, engulfed in flames and thick smoke. If independently confirmed, this would be the most destructive Ukrainian airstrike of the war, with estimated losses reaching $2 billion.
Russian Response and Retaliation
While Russian authorities have not officially acknowledged the full extent of the damage, they confirmed a drone attack on a military base in the Irkutsk region—the first such strike in Siberia. Russian officials said the source of the drone launches had been blocked and emergency teams were deployed to contain the situation. In retaliation, the Russian Defense Ministry claimed to have destroyed six Ukrainian drone launchers and about 30 UAVs in the Kharkov region using Iskander-M missiles.
Explosions Target Russian Bridges Near Ukraine
In a parallel escalation, two major bridge explosions rocked Russia’s Bryansk and Kursk regions, both bordering Ukraine. The blasts caused a bridge to collapse onto a moving passenger train near Bryansk, killing at least seven people and injuring over 70, including children. Hours later, a second bridge collapse in Kursk derailed a freight train, injuring the driver. Russian authorities have labeled these incidents as acts of terrorism and launched criminal investigations, while President Putin was briefed throughout the night.
Strategic Significance and New Phase in the Conflict
This wave of attacks marks a significant escalation in Ukraine’s military strategy, demonstrating its capacity to strike strategic Russian targets thousands of kilometers from the front lines. Analysts see this as a major setback for Russia’s air power and a warning that Ukraine’s drone capabilities have reached a new level of sophistication and reach.
The timing of the attacks just before scheduled peace talks in Istanbul adds further complexity to already strained negotiations. While Russia has proposed new discussions, Kyiv has not confirmed its participation, and the ground situation remains extremely volatile.
Ukraine’s unprecedented drone assault on Russian airbases has reportedly crippled over 40 warplanes, including strategic bombers and surveillance aircraft, in a bold escalation of the ongoing conflict. The strikes, coupled with deadly bridge explosions in Russia’s border regions, have heightened tensions and cast uncertainty over upcoming peace talks. As both sides brace for further escalation, the war appears to have entered a new and more dangerous chapter.
