Russia confirms warplanes damaged in FPV drone strikes hitting five air bases; no casualties reported

This undated and unlocated handout picture, released on June 1, 2025 by the Security Service of Ukraine shows Ukrainian military drones.(AFP)

Russian defence ministry has confirmed that five air bases were hit by drone attacks carried out by Ukraine, that damaged an unspecified number of aircraft.

Ukraine said it destroyed about 40 Russian planes, including powerful strategic bombers, in the large drone strikes on Russian bases.

According to Ukrainian officials, the operation was meticulously prepared over an 11-month period by the country’s Security Service (SBU). The SBU estimated the targeted Russian military aircraft to be worth approximately $7 billion.

“Today, the Kyiv regime staged a terror attack with the use of FPV drones on airfields in the Murmansk, Irkutsk, Ivanovo, Ryazan, and Amur Regions. All terror attacks on military airfields in the Ivanovo, Ryazan, and Amur Regions were repelled,”

“No casualties were reported either among servicemen or civilians. Some of those involved in the terror attacks were detained,” the Russian defence ministry said in a statement.

“As a result of the launch of FPV drones from territories in the close proximity to military airfields in the Murmansk and Irkutsk Regions, several aircraft caught fire. The fires were extinguished,” the Russian MoD said.

The Russian military added that there were no casualties and that several "participants" had been arrested reports AFP.

(With agency inputs)