Massive Ukrainian Operation Strikes Deep Into Russian Military Airfields
In a bold and meticulously planned move, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) launched a large-scale operation targeting four key Russian military airfields on Sunday. According to an insider source from the SBU who spoke exclusively to ABC News, the operation managed to hit over 40 Russian military aircraft. These planes have been responsible for relentless nightly bombings of Ukrainian cities, making the strike a significant blow to Russia’s aerial capabilities.
What made this operation particularly impressive was the extensive planning behind it — the source revealed it had been in the works for more than a year and a half. The drones involved were ingeniously hidden inside what looked like mobile houses mounted on trucks. These "mobile houses" had retractable roofs that remotely opened at the critical moment, allowing the drones to fly out undetected and strike their targets with precision.
Drone Strikes Confirmed in Russian Heartlands: Irkutsk and Murmansk Hit
The governors of two Russian regions, Irkutsk and Murmansk, confirmed drone attacks on Sunday. Videos shared by the SBU with ABC News show drones swarming over Olenya airbase in Murmansk and Belaya airfield in Irkutsk—both strategic hubs housing Russia’s nuclear-capable bomber aircraft.
Irkutsk’s governor described the drones being launched from the back of a truck, with harrowing footage capturing the drones flying overhead while thick plumes of smoke rose from the targeted sites. These images highlight the reach of Ukraine’s counteroffensive deep into Russian territory, shaking the perceived invulnerability of Moscow’s military infrastructure.
Railway Bridges Collapse in Western Russia — Deadly Explosions Raise Tensions
Overnight, chaos erupted in Russia’s western Bryansk region when a railway bridge suddenly collapsed, causing a passenger train derailment that killed seven people and injured 66 others, 47 of whom were hospitalized. The train, known as number 68, was traveling from Klimov, a border town near Belgorod, to Moscow when disaster struck.
Bryansk Governor Aleksandr Bogomaz attributed the collapse to an explosion on the bridge and told Rossiya-24 TV that the incident was linked to “illegal interference in transport operations.” The train was carrying nearly 400 passengers at the time of the accident, underscoring the tragedy’s scale.
Adding to the turmoil, another railway bridge collapsed overnight in the neighboring Kursk region, derailing a freight train and injuring at least one worker. The train partially fell onto the road beneath the damaged bridge, as reported by acting Kursk governor Alexander Khinshtein.
Russian Officials Point Fingers at Ukraine, But Kyiv Denies Involvement
Predictably, Russian political figures wasted no time blaming Ukraine for these deadly rail incidents. Andrei Klishas, chair of Russia’s Federation Council Committee on State Construction, accused Ukraine of operating like a “terrorist group,” responsible for the bridge explosions and the train derailment.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin stated that President Vladimir Putin was briefed on the incidents and received updates from the Federal Security Service and the Emergencies Ministry.
But Kyiv swiftly pushed back against these claims. Andriy Kovalenko, head of Ukraine’s Counter-Disinformation Center, suggested that Russia was preparing an excuse to derail peace talks scheduled for Monday in Istanbul, Turkey. Kovalenko wrote on Telegram that Ukraine had no motive to disrupt the summit, especially since Ukraine had agreed to a ceasefire long ago. He dismissed the rail sabotage allegations as “Russian propaganda,” designed to distract from Moscow’s failures.
Ukrainian Intelligence Continues Targeting Russian Military Logistics
Ukraine’s intelligence agencies have frequently targeted Russia’s railway networks — vital arteries for Moscow’s military logistics — though they often avoid officially claiming responsibility. The strikes are aimed at disrupting Russian supply lines, making it harder for Moscow to sustain its war effort.
On Saturday night, for instance, Ukraine’s military intelligence service, known as GUR, reported an explosion on a railway in southern occupied Ukraine. The blast derailed a freight train transporting fuel tanks headed toward occupied Crimea, striking a critical supply route. GUR emphasized that the fight against Russian military logistics continues to be a top priority.
Escalating Strikes and Counter-Strikes Define the Ongoing Conflict
The border regions of Bryansk, Kursk, and Belgorod have become hot zones in this three-year-long conflict, with frequent Ukrainian incursions and sabotage operations. Notably, Ukrainian forces have even carried out ground operations in Kursk, directly challenging Russian control.
At the same time, Moscow maintains its relentless long-range bombing campaign against Ukraine. Just overnight, the Ukrainian air force reported 479 drones and missiles launched into Ukrainian territory — marking one of the largest aerial assaults since the war began. Ukrainian air defenses successfully neutralized 385 of these threats, but some still made an impact in 18 locations.
In a particularly grim attack, Russian missiles hit a military training facility somewhere in Ukraine, killing 12 people and injuring 60 more, according to Ukrainian ground forces.
The Bigger Picture: A War of Logistics and Technology
This ongoing war has increasingly become a battle over infrastructure and supply lines. Ukrainian forces are targeting Russian military assets deep inside Russia, while Moscow continues to bomb Ukrainian cities indiscriminately. The use of drones, remote-controlled strikes, and sabotage shows how the conflict is evolving with technology playing a pivotal role.
Points to highlight:
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Year-and-a-half-long planning for the drone strike shows the level of strategic foresight by Ukrainian intelligence.
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Mobile houses with retractable roofs used to conceal drones are a game-changing tactic in modern warfare.
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The collapse of vital railway bridges is not only tragic but also a direct hit to Russian military logistics.
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Kyiv’s denial of involvement in the rail incidents and its insistence on continuing peace talks contrast sharply with Moscow’s accusations.
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The scale of Russian aerial attacks and Ukraine’s air defense response highlight the high stakes and the intense nature of the conflict.
Why This Matters
This complex mix of targeted drone strikes, sabotage of transportation infrastructure, and large-scale missile attacks paints a clear picture of how the war is being fought on multiple fronts — from the skies to the railways, and in the information war surrounding peace negotiations. Each event impacts not just the immediate battlefield but the broader geopolitical landscape, affecting diplomatic efforts and the lives of civilians caught in the crossfire.
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