Ukraine Strikes Deep Inside Russia: Over 40 Military Aircraft Hit in Massive Drone Offensive

Ukraine Strikes Deep Inside Russia: A Ukrainian drone attack hit over 40 Russian planes deep inside Russian territory, a Ukrainian security official said Sunday, as Russia bombarded Ukraine with missiles and drones the day prior to both sides meeting for another round of direct talks in Istanbul.

The official, who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition that they remain anonymous to discuss operational details, said the attack was over a year-and-a-half in the making and was personally supervised by Ukraine's President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

He said drones were transported in containers that were carried by trucks to deep into Russian territory. The drones struck airfields, including the Belaya air base in the Irkutsk region of Russia, almost 4,000 kilometers (2,500 miles) from Ukraine. It is the first time that a drone from Ukraine has been seen in that region, said local Gov. Igor Kobzeva, stressing that it posed no threat to civilians.

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The attack was disclosed on the same day that Zelenskyy said Ukraine will send a delegation to Istanbul to engage in another round of direct peace talks with Russia on Monday.

In a statement posted to Telegram, Zelenskyy said that Defense Minister Rustem Umerov will head the Ukrainian delegation. "We are doing everything to protect our independence, our state and our people," Zelenskyy said.

Ukrainian officials had previously asked the Kremlin to provide a promised memorandum outlining its stance towards ending the war before the meeting occurs. The Kremlin had said it would provide its memorandum during the talks.

Russian strike hits an army unit

On Sunday, Russian forces launched the most drones — 472 — on Ukraine over the course of the war since the full-scale invasion during February 2022, Ukraine's air force has said.

The Russians also fired seven missiles as well, according to Yuriy Ignat, head of communications for the air force. Earlier on Sunday, Ukraine's army said at least 12 Ukrainian service members were killed, and more than 60 were injured due to the Russian missile strike on an army training unit.

The strike hit at 12:50 p.m., according to the statement. It noted that no formations or mass gatherings of personnel happened at the time. The first statement also said an investigation mission had been set up to explore the circumstances surrounding the attack that had inflicted such a loss of personnel.

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The training unit is literally at the back of the active front, 1000 km/620 miles, where Russian reconnaissance and strike drones can operate.

Ukraine's forces are dealing with personnel shortages and are taking extra precautions to avoid large gatherings as the skies over the front-line are congested with Russian drones looking for a target.

"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," the Ukrainian Ground Forces' statement said.

Northern pressure

On Sunday, Russia's Ministry of Defense reported that it has taken control of the village of Oleksiivka in northeastern Ukraine's Sumy region. Ukrainian authorities in Sumy ordered mandatory evacuations in 11 additional settlements Saturday as Russian forces are steadily advancing in the same area.

In a briefing Saturday, Ukraine's highest-ranking army official, Oleksandr Syrskyi, reported that the main offensive efforts of Russian forces were in Pokrovsk, Toretsk and Lyman in the Donetsk region, as well as in the border area of Sumy.

On Sunday, Russia's Ministry of Defense reported that it has taken control of the village of Oleksiivka in northeastern Ukraine's Sumy region. Ukrainian authorities in Sumy ordered mandatory evacuations in 11 additional settlements Saturday as Russian forces are steadily advancing in the same area.

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