Ukraine launched its most audacious drone strike to date on Sunday, targeting and reportedly damaging or destroying more than 40 Russian long-range bombers at the Belaya airbase in Siberia—2,600 miles from the nearest frontline. If confirmed, the operation would mark one of Kyiv’s deepest and most devastating strikes on Russian military aviation since the war began.
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) announced the strike with video footage showing aircraft engulfed in flames, claiming it was part of a “large-scale special operation” dubbed Operation Spider’s Web. The attack targeted Tu-95 and Tu-22 strategic bombers—both nuclear-capable and routinely used to launch long-range missiles at Ukrainian cities. According to the SBU, the complex operation took over 18 months to plan and was overseen personally by President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Simultaneous drone strikes were also reported at the Olenya airbase in Russia’s far northwest Murmansk region, another facility used to house nuclear-capable aircraft. Pro-Kremlin military bloggers confirmed both incidents, and videos posted from Irkutsk Oblast in Siberia showed plumes of smoke rising near the village of Sredny, while drones buzzed overhead. Regional governor Igor Kobzev said the drones were launched from a modified truck, with Ukrainian sources releasing images of drones being deployed from the back of a lorry.
The dramatic escalation came just hours after one of Russia’s heaviest single-night air assaults on Ukraine, with Moscow launching 472 drones and seven ballistic and cruise missiles, including on the capital, Kyiv. The surge in mutual strikes also followed Russia’s recent battlefield gains in the north, where it claims to have captured the village of Oleksiivka in Sumy region. Ukrainian authorities ordered the evacuation of 11 more settlements in response.
In a separate but deadly development on the front, at least 12 Ukrainian soldiers were killed and more than 60 injured in a Russian missile strike on a Ukrainian training facility. The site was located far from the frontline, but nonetheless vulnerable to reconnaissance and strike drones. Ukrainian Ground Forces have launched an investigation into whether operational failings may have contributed to the high casualty toll.
“If it is established that the actions or inaction of officials led to the death or injury of servicemen, those responsible will be held strictly accountable,” a military statement said. With Ukrainian forces already under pressure due to manpower shortages, the loss is significant.
Meanwhile, hopes for diplomacy dimmed further ahead of planned peace talks in Istanbul. Kyiv has confirmed its attendance, led by Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, but expressed frustration at Moscow’s failure to provide a formal memorandum outlining its position. President Zelensky accused the Kremlin of “playing with diplomacy” and reiterated his refusal to accept Russian demands to halt arms imports and suspend troop mobilization—preconditions Moscow has set for serious negotiations.
Adding to the volatility, Russia accused Ukraine of sabotaging two railway bridges in the Bryansk and Kursk regions, both near the border. One freight train was derailed, and seven civilians were reportedly killed. Moscow’s Investigative Committee labeled the incidents as “acts of terrorism,” although Ukraine has yet to issue a public response. Russian authorities later walked back initial statements suggesting accidental causes.
The sweeping drone offensive on Russia’s strategic airbases and infrastructure marks a dramatic expansion of Ukraine’s reach—and a warning shot ahead of high-stakes diplomacy. As Zelensky presses forward with both battlefield resistance and limited engagement in talks, the weekend’s developments suggest the war’s deadliest days may still lie ahead.
