The Russian defense ministry confirmed on Sunday that Ukrainian drone strikes targeted five airbases across the country, resulting in damage to an unspecified number of aircraft. In a statement, the ministry accused Kyiv of executing “a terror attack” using first-person view (FPV) drones, impacting airfields in the Murmansk, Irkutsk, Ivanovo, Ryazan, and Amur Regions. The ministry claimed that “all terror attacks on military airfields in the Ivanovo, Ryazan, and Amur Regions were repelled.”
For the first time, it was officially stated that some of the drone launches occurred from locations close to the airfields. Russian officials indicated that Olenogorsk airfield in the Murmansk region and Sredny airfield in Irkutsk, Siberia, were targeted from nearby sites using trailer trucks. The ministry noted, “As a result of the launch of FPV drones from territories in close proximity to military airfields in the Murmansk and Irkutsk Regions, several aircraft caught fire. The fires were extinguished.”
In contrast, Ukrainian sources claimed that the attacks destroyed approximately 40 Russian military aircraft, including nuclear-capable TU-95 and Tu-22 strategic bombers. Analysts speculate that these strikes might be an effort by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to exert pressure on Russia ahead of the second round of peace talks set for Monday in Istanbul. A Russian delegation, led by Kremlin aide Vladimir Medynsky, has already arrived in Turkey.
Despite the forthcoming talks, experts remain doubtful about any significant breakthroughs, with many believing that a ceasefire in Ukraine is unlikely at this stage.
Original Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/europe/russian-defence-ministry-confirms-5-airbases-targeted-in-ukrainian-drone-strike/articleshow/121556212.cms
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Publish Date: 2025-06-02 02:22:00
