Ukraine attacks Russian airbase in Siberia

kyiv. Ukraine attacked a Siberian military base yesterday, June 1, with Russian long-range nuclear-capable bombers, the first such attack so far more than 4,300 kilometers from the front lines, according to pro-Russian bloggers.

The Ukrainian security services (SBU) stated yesterday, June 1, that the large-scale attack on air bases in Russia caused an estimated $7 billion in damage.

One of its officials told Reuters that the SBU carried out a large-scale drone attack against more than 40 Russian military aircraft.

The Ukrainian source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the planes attacked included Tu-95 and Tu-22 strategic bombers, which Russia uses to fire long-range missiles at Ukraine.

The Belaya, or Sredny, airbase is located near the town of Sredny and is home to the Tupolev Tu-22M long-range supersonic strategic bomber, according to open sources within the Russian armed forces.

There was also a Ukrainian drone attack in the Murmansk region in northern Russia, according to local officials. The Olenya airbase, which also houses strategic aviation, is located in the Murmansk region, according to open sources.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed responsibility for the attacks.

"This is our largest-scale operation," the president stated, adding that the agents involved in preparing the attack managed to leave Russian territory "in time."

Resignation

The commander of the Ukrainian ground forces, Mikhail Drapati, resigned yesterday, June 1, explaining that he feels "responsible" for the deaths of at least 12 Ukrainian soldiers in a Russian attack on a training camp.

"I have decided to resign from the position of commander of the ground forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine," he wrote, adding that this decision was dictated by his "personal sense of responsibility" following the attack on a training ground on Sunday morning.

Similar attacks have occurred several times in recent months, and Drapati said Sunday that he had not done "enough" to prevent their consequences.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held a telephone conversation with his US counterpart, Marco Rubio, to discuss the new round of negotiations with Ukraine, which will be held today in Istanbul.