Over 40 Russian Warplanes Destroyed in Massive Ukrainian Drone Strike Deep Inside Russia

Ukraine ‘destroys 40 Russian aircraft including nuke bombers at four airbases’ in massive coordinated drone blitz

More than 40 Russian military aircraft have been destroyed in a sweeping Ukrainian drone operation targeting airbases deep within Russian territory, according to a Ukrainian security official. The operation, which took over a year and a half to prepare, was reportedly overseen personally by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The unprecedented drone strike, carried out on Sunday, targeted five major Russian airfields and resulted in the destruction or damage of strategic bombers and surveillance aircraft, including Tu-95, Tu-22M3, and A-50 planes. These aircraft have been central to Russia’s long-range strike capabilities used against Ukraine throughout the war.

Smoke rises in Russia's Irkutsk region following a reported Ukrainian drone attack on a nearby airbase, in this still image from a video published on Sunday

According to Ukrainian sources, the drones were transported in containers hidden inside wooden mobile homes mounted on trucks, which entered Russia undetected. At the right moment, the roofs of the mobile homes were remotely opened, launching the drones toward their targets.

Among the airbases hit were:

Belaya Airfield in Irkutsk, located approximately 4,500 kilometers (2,800 miles) from Ukraine.

Dyagilevo Airbase in Ryazan, western Russia, 520 kilometers (320 miles) from Ukraine.

Olenya Base near Murmansk in the Arctic Circle, over 2,000 kilometers (1,200 miles) from Ukraine.

Ivanovo Airbase, about 800 kilometers (500 miles) from the Ukrainian border.

Additional strikes were reported in the Amur region in Russia’s Far East.

A picture purporting to show the sheds the drones were hidden in

The Russian Ministry of Defense confirmed the attacks, labeling them "terrorist acts" and stating that drones had sparked fires at the Murmansk and Irkutsk bases, though they claimed the fires were extinguished without casualties. The ministry said some of the individuals involved had been detained.

Footage verified from the Belaya airfield showed large fires and smoke plumes rising into the air. In one video, a voice believed to be that of Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) chief Lt. Gen. Vasyl Malyuk is heard saying, “How beautiful Belaya airfield looks now. Enemy’s strategic aircraft.”

The drones supposedly used in the attack

The attack was described by Ukrainian officials as the most ambitious simultaneous drone operation against Russian airbases since the war began, with an estimated damage exceeding $2 billion. The aircraft targeted were regularly involved in bombing Ukrainian cities.

The strikes come just a day before Ukraine and Russia are set to hold a new round of direct peace talks in Istanbul. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy announced that Defense Minister Rustem Umerov would lead the Ukrainian delegation, emphasizing the country’s commitment to defending its sovereignty.

While Ukraine awaits a formal memorandum from Moscow outlining its stance on ending the conflict, the drone strikes serve as a powerful reminder of Kyiv’s continued ability to strike strategic Russian targets far from the front lines.