Ukraine Launches Large-Scale Drone Attack on Russian Military Aircraft in Siberia

Ukraine launched a large-scale drone attack on multiple Russian military airbases deep inside Russia, including in Siberia, reportedly destroying over 40 strategic Russian bomber aircraft such as Tu-95 and Tu-22 bombers. The drones were reportedly smuggled into Russia and concealed on trucks and under rooftops, with the operation codenamed "Spiderweb" and said to have been planned for over 18 months. This marks one of the most audacious Ukrainian strikes on Russian territory since the war began, with attacks confirmed in the Irkutsk and Murmansk regions, although independent verification remains limited. The attacks coincided with a major Russian drone and missile assault on Ukraine, which killed at least 12 Ukrainian soldiers, highlighting escalating hostilities just before scheduled peace talks in Istanbul. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized the necessity of clear agendas and proper preparation for the talks, aiming for a complete and unconditional ceasefire, prisoner releases, and the return of abducted children, while Ukraine’s demands include no recognition of Russian territorial gains since 2014. Both sides have sent delegations to the Istanbul talks amidst these intensified military actions.