Moscow: Ukraine conducted a major drone attack on Sunday, hitting at least 40 Russian military aircraft, Reuters reported.
According to Ukraine’s domestic security agency Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), their forces hit Russian aircraft, including Tu-95 and Tu-22 strategic bombers, which were deployed to fire long-range missiles.
Even as peace talks are supposed to resume on Monday, there has been a severe escalation in military activity, with Ukrainian Air Forces (UAF) retaliating after Russia launched its largest nightly drone attack since the start of the war in February 2022.
In a statement on Telegram, UAF said that Russia launched nearly 500 drones and seven missiles, many of which were thwarted by Ukraine.
Igor Kobzev, regional governor of Russia’s Irkutsk region, said that Ukrainian drones attacked a military unit in the Sredny settlement.
Explosions and heavy smoke were also observed near Olenya Air Base in the Murmansk region, Belarusian news media outlet NEXTA reported, sharing images and videos of the aftermath on X.
“Preliminary reports suggest a possible drone strike. Olenya is one of Russia’s key strategic aviation facilities, hosting aircraft capable of carrying nuclear weapons,” NEXTA said, adding that there was no official confirmation.
If confirmed, this would be one of the most sensitive strikes on Russia’s military infrastructure since the start of the war.
There was no immediate report of injuries or casualties in the Ukrainian drone attack.
A week ago, Russia unleashed 367 drones and missiles across Ukrainian cities in what was the largest aerial attack in 39-month-old war.
Thirteen people, including three children, were killed, and dozens injured as missiles hit Kyiv, Kharkiv, Mykolaiv, Ternopil and Khmelnytskyi.
Ukraine managed to down 266 Russian drones and 45 missiles, but suffered widespread damage.
Peace talks on Monday
Despite the attack and counter-attack, President Volodymyr Zelensky has reaffirmed Ukraine’s commitment to the peace talks scheduled for Monday.
In his latest statement, Zelensky said that a delegation from Kyiv will be attending the ceasefire negotiations with Russia in Istanbul, Turkey.
“We are doing everything to protect our independence, our state and our people,” said the Ukrainian President.
US President Donald Trump, for whom ending the Russia-Ukraine war is a key foreign policy goal, has proposed a 30-day halt to all hostilities — land, air, sea, and attacks on critical infrastructure. Ukraine has accepted the proposal, Russia’s nod is awaited before a formal agreement.
The May 16 peace talks ended without agreement.
Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow has drafted a memorandum outlining its terms for a ceasefire, but is yet to share it with Ukraine. Fingers are crossed ahead of Monday’s second round of talks.
It remains to be seen if Russia take part in the talks after Sunday’s show of aggression by Ukraine.
