Ukraine drone strikes on Russia: In what is being termed as the largest drone attack by Ukraine in the last three years of conflict with Russia, Ukrianian forces on Sunday executed a volley of drone strikes that eliminated more than 40 Russian military aircraft stationed deep within Russian territory, as per Ukrainian security officials.
A Ukrainian Twitter user, Sergej Sumlenny, whose profile states that he is the founder of European Resilience, shared the video on X (formerly known as Twitter), claiming that the attack was "destruction of aggressor's weapon of unpunished terror by a small force". However, the veracity of the video could not be independently verified. Watch —
The officials told The Associated Press that the attacks occurred the day before Russia and Ukraine are to meet in Istanbul for talks and negotiations.
The Ukrainian security official revealed that the drone strikes took over 18 months of planning and were being directly overseen by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
"Ukrainian "Pavutyna" (spider net) operation is today's attack launched simultaneously on four Russia's strategic aviation airbases has reportedly destroyed 40 (forty) strategic bombers on 4 (four) airbases: Belaya (4700 km from Ukraine), Dyagilevo (700 km), Olenya (2000 km), Ivanovo (900 km). Drones were launched in swarms from cargo trucks (sic)," Sumlenny added.
The attack comes after Russia deployed 472 drone and unmanned aircraft against Ukrainian targets on Sunday — the largest single-day drone strike since Moscow's full-scale invasion began in February 2022, according to Ukraine's air force command.
The drone attack was accompanied by seven missile strikes, reported Yuriy Ignat, the air force's chief communications officer. Earlier on Sunday, Ukrainian military sources confirmed that a Russian missile attack on a military training facility resulted in at least 12 Ukrainian service members killed and over 60 wounded.
The strike occurred at 12:50 p.m., with military officials emphasizing that no large-scale formations or personnel assemblies were taking place at the targeted location.
Also Read - 'Largest since invasion': Russia launches record 472 drones, 7 missiles in overnight attack on Ukraine
The massive drone attack coincides with Zelenskyy's announcement that Ukraine would dispatch representatives to Istanbul for Monday's diplomatic talks with Russia.
Also Read - Zelenskyy says Ukraine will send delegation to Istanbul for talks with Russia
As per reports, the Ukrainian drone mission involved transporting unmanned aerial vehicles in shipping containers via truck convoy deep into Russian territory, the official explained.
Sunday afternoon's coordinated strike targeted 41 bomber aircraft across multiple Russian airfields, including facilities at the Belaya air base located in Russia's Irkutsk region—approximately 4,000 kilometres from Ukraine's borders.
Also Read - Operation Spider Web: How Ukraine struck Russian bomber bases using drones hidden in wooden sheds
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