Ukraine claimed that Russia lost at least 40 strategic bombers after its security service launched a drone strike across multiple locations. According to Kyiv, Russian planes stationed at 40 home airbases, including in the Arctic, were targeted in the operation.
While Ukraine released videos showing explosions and smoke rising from Russian airbases, media reports in Moscow confirmed the development but stated that their air defence systems were engaging the incoming enemy drones.
Russia's Olenya Airbase near Murmansk and Belaya Airbase in Siberia's Irkutsk Oblast were identified by multiple Western media reports as sites targeted by Kyiv.
Ukraine's security service has declared the attack "a large-scale special operation," according to a report by the BBC.
