Ukraine destroys 41 Russian military aircraft in Siberia

KYIV,— Ukrainian forces targeted a military airbase deep inside Russia’s Siberian region over the weekend, striking strategic bombers stationed more than 4,300 km (2,670 miles) from the front lines, according to a Ukrainian intelligence source and pro-Russian bloggers.

The drone strikes hit the Belaya airbase near Sredny village in the Irkutsk region, where Russia’s long-range Tupolev bombers, including the Tu-95 and Tu-22, are reportedly based.

Social media footage reviewed by independent groups appeared to show fires burning near aircraft and large smoke plumes rising from the scene.

A senior Ukrainian intelligence official, speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity, said the drone operation was carried out by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU).

The agency reportedly targeted 41 aircraft across four separate airfields using drones that had been hidden in specially modified sheds. The roofs of those sheds were remotely opened to release the drones for the coordinated attack.

The SBU later issued a statement on Telegram claiming the attacks caused an estimated $7 billion in damage.

Governor Igor Kobzev of Irkutsk confirmed a drone strike took place near the village of Sredny in Usolsky district but made no mention of strategic bombers.

In a video posted on his Telegram channel, the governor said drones were launched from trucks and described the event as the first of its kind in that part of Siberia. The number of drones involved was not specified.

The Belaya airbase, located near Sredny, is known to house long-range supersonic bombers, according to military data available through open sources.

Additional drone activity was also reported in Russia’s far north. Officials in Murmansk said the Olenya airbase — another site hosting strategic aviation assets — was targeted as well.

According to the SBU, 34% of Russia’s cruise missile-carrying bombers located at key bases were hit. The agency claimed credit for the coordinated operation, which reportedly took over 18 months to plan.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hailed the strikes in a X post, calling the results “absolutely brilliant” and emphasizing they were carried out without outside help.

In a later video address, Zelenskyy said 117 drones were used and that Russian forces suffered what he described as “significant losses.”

He added that a temporary SBU command center had been placed near a Russian FSB regional facility and that all participating operatives were extracted from Russia prior to the mission’s launch.

(With files from Reuters)