Ukrainian Drones Strike on Russian Airbases, destroy 40 Russian Aircraft

NEWS DESK-  In a bold and unprecedented operation, Ukrainian forces launched one of their largest drone attacks on Russian territory, targeting multiple strategic military airbases on Sunday, June 1, 2025.

The strikes, which Ukrainian officials have dubbed “Operation Web,” hit key Russian facilities, including Olenya, Belaya, Dyagilevo, and Ivanovo Severny airbases, causing significant damage to Russia’s long-range bomber fleet.

The attack, confirmed by Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU), marks a dramatic escalation in the ongoing conflict as peace negotiations are set to begin in Istanbul on Monday.

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According to media reports, the operation involved sophisticated planning over more than 18 months, with Ukrainian first-person-view (FPV) drones reportedly concealed in false cargo containers and launched from trucks near the targeted airfields.

Sources cited by the Kyiv Independent and Reuters claim the strikes destroyed or damaged over 40 Russian military aircraft, including Tu-95 strategic bombers, Tu-22M3 bombers, and at least one A-50 airborne early warning aircraft.

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A fire was reported at the Belaya airbase, with unverified posts on X claiming the strikes left “blazing scrapyards” in their wake. If confirmed, this would represent the most damaging Ukrainian drone attack of the war, dealing a significant blow to Russia’s air capabilities.

The governor of Russia’s Irkutsk region confirmed an attack on a military unit in the village of Sridni, marking the first reported Ukrainian drone strike in eastern Siberia, thousands of kilometers from the Ukrainian border.

Russian state media, including RT, released footage showing a drone attack in the region, though Russian officials claimed their air defenses intercepted or destroyed dozens of Ukrainian drones across multiple regions.

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The timing of the strikes, just hours before ceasefire talks, has drawn sharp reactions. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the operation as a strategic move to weaken Russia’s ability to conduct long-range strikes, stating, “These attacks target the heart of Moscow’s war machine, ensuring our people are safer.”

Meanwhile, Russia’s Defense Ministry condemned the strikes as “deliberate attempts to disrupt peace efforts,” vowing a “massive response” to what they called a covert assault.

The operation comes amid a recent surge in tit-for-tat drone attacks. Over the past week, Russia has unleashed record-breaking drone barrages on Ukraine, including a massive assault involving 355 Shahed drones and nine cruise missiles on May 26, which killed at least 12 people, including three children in Zhytomyr. Ukrainian air defenses have been stretched thin, though they reportedly downed 233 drones and all nine missiles in the latest attack.

Analysts suggest Ukraine’s strikes aim to level the playing field as Russia ramps up its own drone production, relying on domestically produced Shahed copies and new high-altitude tactics to overwhelm Ukrainian defenses. Posts on X reflect mixed sentiment, with some praising Ukraine’s audacity and others warning of Russian retaliation. One user,

Sources: Reuters, Kyiv Independent, BBC, The New Indian Express