Ukraine has claimed a significant victory in its ongoing conflict with Russia by launching a long-range drone attack that reportedly destroyed Russian bombers worth $7 billion. This operation, described by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as the country’s most extensive strike to date, targeted Russian military airbases as far away as Siberia.
According to reports, the attack was a coordinated effort that originated from within Russia itself. Ukrainian forces aimed at Russian aircraft responsible for launching assaults on Ukraine. An official from Ukraine’s SBU intelligence service revealed that the operation involved a clever tactic of concealing explosive drones within wooden sheds. These drones were then loaded onto trucks and driven to the outskirts of the airbases, where they were unleashed on their targets.
The results were striking, with at least 41 Russian warplanes reportedly hit during the assault. However, Russian state media, specifically TASS, claimed there were no casualties among military personnel or civilians, although they mentioned that some individuals involved in the operation had been detained.
This bold strike came on the heels of a severe escalation in hostilities. Ukraine’s Air Force reported that Russia had launched a record 472 drones at Ukraine overnight, along with seven missile strikes. One of these missile attacks targeted a military training ground in Ukraine, tragically resulting in the deaths of 12 soldiers and injuring over 60 others. In response to this loss, Ukrainian Ground Forces commander Mykhailo Drapatyi announced his resignation, expressing a deep sense of personal responsibility for the tragedy.
Meanwhile, the conflict’s impact was felt on both sides of the border. In Russia, a bridge in the Bryansk region collapsed onto a passenger train, killing at least seven people and injuring 69 others. Authorities attributed the collapse to "illegal interference" in transport operations. Additionally, a second bridge collapse in the Kursk region led to a freight train derailing, injuring the train driver. Reports also indicated that debris from a Ukrainian drone attack sparked fires in private homes in Kursk.
As the situation continues to unfold, both nations remain in a state of heightened tension, with each side facing significant challenges and losses.