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Kyiv has claimed that a large-scale drone strike carried out deep within Russian territory on Sunday destroyed more than 40 military aircraft, in what could be the most damaging Ukrainian drone attack since the start of the war, according to Ukrainian officials.

An unnamed Ukrainian security official told The Associated Press that the operation took more than a year and a half to plan and was directly supervised by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The official said the drones were transported in containers by trucks and then launched from Russian territory, striking 41 bombers stationed at several airfields, including the Belaya air base in Russia’s Irkutsk region, located over 4,000 kilometres from Ukraine.

BREAKING:

Ukraine launches the largest attack against the Russian Air Force of this war.

Drones smuggled into Russia have struck Russia’s strategic bombers at airfields deep in Russia.

Up to 40 planes destroyed, including several A-50 (AEW&C) & Tu-95 & Tu-22 long-range bombers pic.twitter.com/jcShGzXU8l

— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) June 1, 2025

A source told Reuters that the operation was conducted by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and targeted four Russian military air bases simultaneously. The official added that strategic bombers like the Tu-95 and Tu-22—used by Moscow to fire long-range missiles at Ukraine—were among those hit.

Reuters reported that the source, speaking on condition of anonymity, shared video footage allegedly showing the attacks, with several large aircraft, including Tu-95 bombers, seen burning on the tarmac. However, the claims could not be independently verified.

Local governor Igor Kobzev confirmed that a Ukrainian drone had reached the Irkutsk region for the first time and said in a statement that the drone was launched from a truck. Russian authorities in the Ryazan and Murmansk regions also reported drone activity but did not provide further details, as per Reuters.

The attack came as Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine would send a delegation to Istanbul for direct talks with Russia on Monday. In a statement on Telegram, he said, “We are doing everything to protect our independence, our state and our people,” and named Defence Minister Rustem Umerov as head of the Ukrainian delegation.

Russia's Largest Drone Attack On Ukraine

Previously, Russia launched what Ukraine’s air force described as the largest drone attack since the full-scale invasion in February 2022, deploying 472 drones along with seven missiles. Yuriy Ignat, spokesperson for the air force, confirmed the assault.

Earlier on Sunday, a Russian missile strike on a Ukrainian army training unit killed at least 12 service members and injured over 60, according to the Ukrainian military. The strike took place at 12:50 p.m. in a rear area, far from the 1,000-kilometre front line. The statement clarified that no mass gatherings were underway at the time and said an investigative commission had been formed. It also warned that if negligence or inaction by officials is found to have contributed to the casualties, those responsible would be held accountable, AP reported.

In northern Ukraine, Russia’s Defence Ministry claimed it had taken control of Oleksiivka village in the Sumy region. Ukrainian authorities ordered evacuations from 11 additional settlements in Sumy on Saturday amid Russia’s advances.

Ukraine’s top army commander, General Oleksandr Syrskyi, said Russia was focusing its main offensive efforts on Pokrovsk, Toretsk, and Lyman in Donetsk, as well as in border areas of Sumy.