Russian defence ministry confirms 5 airbases targeted in Ukrainian drone strike

The Russian defence ministry confirmed on Sunday that the Ukrainian drone strikes targeted 5 airbases across the country, damaging an unspecified number of aircrafts.In a statement, the Russian defence ministry accused Kyiv of carrying out “a terror attack with the use of FPV drones on airfields in the Murmansk, Irkutsk, Ivanovo, Ryazan, and Amur Regions.”“All terror attacks on military airfields in the Ivanovo, Ryazan, and Amur Regions were repelled,” the ministry added.For the first time, it was officially confirmed that some of the drone launches took place from within close proximity to airfields. According to Russian officials, the Olenogorsk airfield in the Murmansk region and the Sredny airfield in Irkutsk, Siberia, were targeted from nearby locations using trailer trucks.“As a result of the launch of FPV drones from territories in the close proximity to military airfields in the Murmansk and Irkutsk Regions, several aircraft caught fire. The fires were extinguished,” the ministry said.Meanwhile, Ukraine claimed the attacks destroyed around 40 Russian military planes, including nuclear-capable TU-95 and Tu-22 strategic bombers. Observers suggest the attacks may be an attempt by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to put pressure on Moscow ahead of the second round of peace talks scheduled for Monday in Istanbul. A Russian delegation led by Kremlin aide Vladimir Medynsky has already arrived in Turkey.Despite the talks, analysts remain sceptical about any imminent breakthrough. Most believe a ceasefire in Ukraine remains unlikely at this stage.