Ukrainian drones struck multiple Russian military airbases on Sunday, causing several aircraft to catch fire. The Russian Defence Ministry reported that the attacks occurred in five regions: Murmansk, Irkutsk, Ivanovo, Ryazan, and Amur. According to the ministry, “In the Murmansk and Irkutsk regions, the launch of FPV drones from an area in close proximity to airfields resulted in several aircraft catching fire.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised the “absolutely brilliant” drone attack, stating, “Russia has had very tangible losses, and justifiably so.” The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) claimed to have hit Russian military planes worth $7 billion in the drone strikes. Targets included the Belaya airbase in Irkutsk and the Olenya airbase in Murmansk.
The attacks appear to be part of a larger pattern of Ukrainian strikes on Russian military facilities and territory. Zelenskyy has previously voiced skepticism about Russia’s seriousness about peace talks. On Monday, Ukraine’s delegation, led by Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, met with Russian officials in Istanbul, where they discussed a potential ceasefire and the return of prisoners and abducted children.
The timing of the drone strikes is notable, coming a day before the peace talks. US President Donald Trump recently expressed frustration with the lack of progress towards a ceasefire, venting his frustration at Russian President Vladimir Putin. The US president has yet to react to Sunday’s Ukrainian attacks on Russian airbases.
The outcome of the peace talks remains uncertain, with both sides presenting differing priorities. Ukraine’s delegation pushed for a “complete and unconditional ceasefire” and the return of prisoners and abducted children, while Russia has formulated its own peace terms and declined a Turkish proposal for the meeting to be held at the leaders’ level. Despite the challenges, the talks led to an agreement on a prisoner swap, with both sides agreeing to exchange prisoners and remains of soldiers killed in combat.