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Ukraine on Sunday launched a massive drone attack targeting four Russian airbases and at least 40 military aircraft, in one of Kyiv’s biggest operations till date.
Smoke rises following what local authorities called a Ukrainian drone attack, in the course of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. (Reuters)
Russia confirmed Ukraine’s massive drone attack on Sunday, which targeted four Russian airbases and 40 military aircraft in what is being called one of Kyiv’s largest operations till date.
The Russian defence ministry on Telegram said several military aircraft “caught fire” after the drone attack in Murmansk, Irkutsk, Ivanovo, Ryazan and Amur areas. It said there were no casualties and that several “participants” had been arrested. The ministry also accused Ukraine of carrying out a “terrorist” attack.
Igor Kobzev, Governor of Russia’s Irkutsk region, which hosts the targeted Belaya airbase, said it was the “first attack of this sort in Siberia”. He urged the public not to panic and posted an amateur video apparently showing a drone flying in the sky and a large cloud of grey smoke.
The governor of the Murmansk region where the Olenya base was located, Andrey Chibis, also said “enemy drones” were flying overhead, and anti-aircraft defences were operating.
ALSO READ: Ukraine’s Drone Barrage Hits Airbases Deep Inside Russia, Sets 40 Military Aircraft Ablaze
According to Ukrainian media reports, the operation struck airbases deep within Russian territory, including the Belaya airbase in Irkutsk Oblast, approximately 4,300 km from Ukraine. Media reports also claim that the Olenya airbase in Murmansk Oblast, about 2,000 kilometers from Ukraine, was targeted.
It was further claimed that Ukraine had damaged at least $2 billion worth of Russian aircraft parked inside the airbases. The former press secretary of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy took to X and shared a small clip of the attack, claiming that Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) has carried out a large-scale drone strike, reportedly damaging over 40 Russian military aircraft.
She also mentioned that the attack is said to have targeted high-value planes, including A-50 early warning aircraft, Tu-95 strategic bombers, and Tu-22M3 long-range bombers.
The assault took place on the same day as Kyiv revealed that a Russian military strike killed at least 12 soldiers at an army training site, leading to the resignation of the ground forces commander.
(with agency inputs)
Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master’s in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international…Read More
Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master’s in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international… Read More
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