Ukraine claimed that Russia lost at least 40 strategic bombers after its security service launched a drone strike across multiple locations. According to reports from Kyiv, Russian planes stationed at 40 home airbases, including in the Arctic, were targeted in the operation. However, English media reports claimed that the drones only struck four airfields across Russia.
⚡⚡ BREAKING: Billions of dollars is Russia's potential losses today because of the Ukrainian strikes. Ukraine just reportedly destroyed 40 Russian warplanes in a single strike on a Russian airbase. We live in the world when a $600 FPV drone can wipe out a $100M Russian bomber —… pic.twitter.com/mTOrGAD9qp
— Kyrylo Shevchenko (@KShevchenkoReal) June 1, 2025
Given that these airbases were located far from Ukrainian borders, it is safe to assume that the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) managed to launch its drones from inside enemy territory. Some videos on social media showed drones taking off from stationary containers and trucks on roadsides. However, these videos could not be verified by THE WEEK.
Footage of a Ukrainian FPV strike drone rising from a cargo truck and heading towards Russia's Belaya Airbase.
— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) June 1, 2025
The drone launch and airbase hit were over 4000 km (2500 mi) from Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/XU7bCzV5QJ
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.
#BREAKING Russia's Belaya strategic bombers airbase in Irkutsk region, 4,000 km from Ukraine, does not feel good today. The locals say "it is already the 11th (drone)", and we can clearly see an FPV quadrocopter drone flying, what proves that it is an action of a sabotage group⬇️ pic.twitter.com/1CEc6q3hap
— Sergej Sumlenny, LL.M (@sumlenny) June 1, 2025
Ukraine's security service has declared the attack "a large-scale special operation," according to a report by the BBC. "Billions of dollars is Russia's potential losses today because of the Ukrainian strikes. We live in the world when a $600 FPV drone can wipe out a $100M Russian bomber — a 100,000x cost gap. Launched from a truck. That’s the brutal economics of modern war," a user pointed out while sharing the videos.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said that his government will attend a Russia-proposed meeting in Istanbul on Monday . "I outlined (Ukraine's) positions ahead of the meeting in Turkey on Monday," Zelenskiy wrote on Telegram on Sunday after meeting with his officials.
He added that the Ukrainian delegation would again be headed by Defence Minister Rustem Umerov. Zelenskiy listed Ukraine's positions for the talks as a complete and unconditional ceasefire, the release of prisoners, the return of abducted children."And, in order to establish a reliable and lasting peace and guarantee security, to prepare a meeting at the highest level."
