KYIV – Ukrainian drones struck multiple Russian military airbases on Sunday in a bold operation, just a day before peace talks opened in Istanbul.
According to the Russian Defence Ministry, Ukraine launched drone strikes across five regions: Murmansk, Irkutsk, Ivanovo, Ryazan, and Amur. In Murmansk and Irkutsk, drones managed to ignite several military aircraft.
“These were FPV drones launched near airfields. Some aircraft caught fire,” the ministry confirmed. It added that the fires were controlled, and no casualties occurred. Some individuals involved in the operation were reportedly detained.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised the mission. In a message on Telegram, he called it an “absolutely brilliant” strike. Kyiv said it had used 117 drones in total.
Strategic Airbases Damaged
Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) claimed responsibility for the drone strikes. It said the attacks caused $7 billion in damage to Russian military aircraft. This included strategic bombers and long-range missile platforms.
Targets included the Olenya airbase in Murmansk and the Belaya airbase in Irkutsk, located thousands of kilometres from Ukraine’s border. Reports said at least 41 Russian bombers were hit, including Tu-95 and Tu-22 aircraft.
These bombers have been used to launch missiles at Ukrainian cities. The latest strike is being described as one of the most damaging since the war began over three years ago.
Ukrainian media reported that drones were smuggled into Russia inside trucks and launched from near the targeted airfields. Russia has not confirmed the full extent of the damage.
Rising Tensions as Peace Talks Begin
While the strikes stunned Russia, Ukraine sent a delegation to Istanbul on Monday. Defence Minister Rustem Umerov led the talks, which followed a previous deal in May where both sides exchanged 1,000 prisoners.
Zelenskyy said Ukraine entered the talks demanding a full ceasefire, the return of all prisoners, and the safe repatriation of abducted children.
Russia, however, dismissed Turkey’s idea of leader-level talks and instead pushed its own peace terms. Monday’s meeting, reportedly encouraged by U.S. President Donald Trump, ended without a breakthrough.
Meanwhile, drone warfare has intensified on both sides. Russia launched over 900 kamikaze drones and nearly 100 missiles last week, killing 16 civilians in Ukraine.
In response, Kyiv has increased its own strikes, recently hitting military sites in Tula, Alabuga, and Tatarstan with 800 drones.
Al Jazeera’s reporter in Kyiv called the latest drone offensive a “long-planned and well-executed strike.” It signals Ukraine’s growing capabilities — and its readiness to act even while negotiating peace.
