Ukraine Launches Daring Drone Strikes Deep Inside Russia, Targets Military Airbases

A Ukrainian drone attack on Sunday has reportedly destroyed over 40 military planes deep within Russian territory, according to Ukraine’s Security Service. The operation, dubbed "Web," was supervised by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and took more than a year to execute, employing advanced techniques to smuggle drones into Russia. The drone strike targeted aircraft including A-50, Tu-95, and Tu-22M bombers at military airfields in the Irkutsk and Murmansk regions, more than 2,500 miles from Ukraine. Estimates suggest the damage could be around $7 billion, representing 34 percent of Russia’s air missile carriers, though these figures have not been independently verified. This significant attack coincides with a new round of peace talks in Istanbul, where a Ukrainian delegation is set to discuss cessation of hostilities with Russian officials. Despite efforts for dialogue, the conflict remains intense, with Russia launching its largest aerial assault on Ukraine since the escalation began in February 2022, deploying nearly 500 drones and seven missiles. Ukrainian officials reported casualties as at least 12 service members were killed during a separate missile strike on an army training unit.

As Russian occupation persists in Ukraine, one-fifth of the nation remains under foreign control, leaving locals like Mavka, Pavlo, and Iryna grappling with increasing pressures. Residents in occupied cities, including Melitopol and Mariupol, face mandatory Russian citizenship to access work and healthcare, raising fears of repression for any acts of defiance, as reported by the BBC. Mavka, who has joined a secret resistance movement named Zla Mavka, shares that the group aims to uplift Ukrainian spirits through subtle acts of defiance amid rising militarization and "Russification" in her city. Meanwhile, in Mariupol, Pavlo reflects on the devastation suffered during its siege, and the persistent preoccupation with property recovery among locals. Iryna, who remains in Crimea, stresses the dangers of openly expressing Ukrainian identity due to potential repercussions from Russian authorities. Despite the oppressive atmosphere, these civilians continue to find ways to resist and maintain hope. The fear of permanent occupation looms, as locals anxiously watch developments in Kyiv, yearning for stronger support from the Ukrainian government.

A nine-year-old girl was killed in a Russian missile attack in the front-line village of Dolynka in the Zaporizhzhia region, as Russia launched 109 drones and five missiles across Ukraine overnight on Friday, according to the Ukrainian Air Force. The strike also wounded a 16-year-old and damaged nearby houses, vehicles, and outbuildings, reported Zaporizhzhia's governor, Ivan Fedorov. Concurrent with these attacks, Russian forces claimed to have captured two villages, Novopil in Donetsk and Vodolagy in Sumy, according to the Russian state news agency RIA. This development has prompted Ukrainian authorities in Sumy to order mandatory evacuations in eleven more settlements, totaling 213 under evacuation orders. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that around 50,000 Russian troops are gathering for a potential offensive aimed at creating a buffer zone in Ukraine. Amidst these escalations, discussions for a second round of peace talks are set to take place on June 2 in Istanbul, although Kyiv emphasized the need for a memorandum from Moscow outlining its position for negotiation.