A massive drone attack launched by Ukraine hit deep within Russian territory on Sunday. The target was Russian bomber aircraft, and the attack left several planes ablaze. This bold move comes just before Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced plans to send a delegation, led by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, to Istanbul, Turkey, to negotiate a ceasefire with Russia.
The attack, which caught the Russian military off guard, marked a significant escalation in the conflict. Ukrainian officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed that the operation was planned over a year ago by the Ukrainian Security Service. They used drones launched from trucks hidden near Russian air bases, including some in Siberia.
Reports indicate that around 40 Russian military planes, including strategic bombers, were damaged in the attack. The Russian Defense Ministry stated that air bases in five regions were targeted, but they managed to repel the attacks in three of those regions. They also reported that several planes caught fire in the Murmansk and Irkutsk regions, but there were no casualties.
In response, Russia launched its own drone attacks on multiple cities in Ukraine, including the capital, Kyiv, over the past 24 hours. President Zelenskyy posted on X that he had met with military leaders and the Security Service to discuss the country’s defense and ongoing operations.
The Ukrainian president confirmed that the main points for discussion in the upcoming negotiations with Russia would include an unconditional ceasefire, the release of prisoners of war, and the return of abducted children. These talks were set to take place on Monday.
According to sources, including axios, the situation remains volatile, with both sides exchanging blows. The international community waits with bated breath for the outcome of these negotiations, hoping for a resolution to the ongoing conflict.