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A series of Ukrainian drone strikes deep inside Russian territory over the weekend has exposed vulnerabilities in Moscow’s military defenses and dealt a symbolic and strategic blow to the Kremlin’s confidence, just ahead of peace talks in Istanbul.
The attacks, targeting at least four Russian air bases and involving 117 drones launched from covert containers near the sites, marked one of Ukraine’s most complex and far-reaching operations in the three-year conflict. Verified imagery and footage show significant damage to Russia’s long-range bomber fleet, including Tu-22 and Tu-95 aircraft used in past missile strikes on Ukraine.
According to analysts cited by the Financial Times, the strikes destroyed or damaged roughly 20% of Russia’s operationally ready long-range bombers, aircraft designed to deliver heavy payloads over vast distances. While some of the planes were undergoing maintenance, experts say they were among the most combat-ready in Russia’s arsenal.
“Ukraine has demonstrated not only reach but resolve,” said military analyst Michael Kofman. “This operation weakens Russia’s ability to conduct long-range attacks and chips away at its image as a secure military power.”
Though not believed to significantly impact Russia’s nuclear capabilities, of which air-based systems form a smaller portion, the strikes have disrupted daily operational planning and signaled that even far-flung military assets are not beyond Ukraine’s reach.
Satellite images from Capella Space and footage reviewed by Reuters show multiple aircraft wrecked at the Belaya and Irkutsk bases. Open-source researchers estimate between 10 and 12 bombers were destroyed, though Ukraine claims more than 40 aircraft were damaged or destroyed. Russia has officially acknowledged only “a few” losses.
The drone campaign reflects an 18-month-long Ukrainian effort to develop strike capacity well beyond the front lines, using domestically developed drones without Western weapons.
“This attack shatters the long-held belief in Russia’s strategic sanctuary,” said William Alberque, former NATO arms control official. “Ukraine has proven that no part of Russia is out of reach.”
The strike on the Crimean Bridge
Amid these significant blows to Russia, another strike followed. Ukraine’s SBU security service announced that the Ukrainian military had attacked the bridge connecting Russia to the Crimean Peninsula using explosives placed beneath the water’s surface.
In a Telegram statement, the SBU said the explosion occurred early in the morning and damaged the underwater pillars of the bridge, a critical supply route for Russian forces operating in Ukraine. A total of 1,100 kilograms of explosives were reportedly used in the attack.
Russian authorities announced shortly afterward that traffic had been restored on the bridge, which had been temporarily closed.
