Large-Scale Ukrainian Attack Targets Air Bases Deep inside Russia

[wing2000]

Russia’s Defense Ministry said on Sunday that Ukrainian drones had attacked airfields in five regions stretching across five time zones. Several aircraft caught fire in the regions of Murmansk, near the border with Norway, and Irkutsk, in eastern Siberia, the ministry said in a statement.

...
President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine said on social media that planning for the operation had begun a year and a half ago, and that those involved in the attacks had been withdrawn from Russia before they took place.

He called the results of the assault “absolutely brilliant” and added, “Ukraine is defending itself, and rightly so — we are doing everything to make Russia feel the need to end this war.”

A video verified by The New York Times shows two drones being launched from containers mounted on the back of a semi-truck less than four miles from the Belaya air base. Both fly in the direction of large smoke plumes rising from the base. Footage recorded shortly afterward shows the same containers ablaze.
Another video shows drones flying less than four miles from the Olenya air base. The man recording it suggests that the drones had been launched from a truck parked just down the road. The Times could not confirm that these drones were part of the assault.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/01/world/europe/russia-ukraine-strikes.html

 

[Richard T]

Upping the ante for peace, or for a greater conflict? I'd guess the latter but we will see soon enough.

 

[Sif]

Seeing the footage of the strikes it makes me wonder how vulnerable our military bases are, specifically, strategic bomber bases.

 

[Hans Blaster]

Seeing the footage of the strikes it makes me wonder how vulnerable our military bases are, specifically, strategic bomber bases.

If the base commanders aren't putting anti-drone netting around parking areas, then they are failing us.

In related numbers, 30-50% of the operational Russian nuclear-capable long-range bombers were destroyed today.

 

[wing2000]

The drones hit 41 planes stationed at military airfields on Sunday afternoon, including A-50, Tu-95 and Tu-22M aircraft, the official said. Moscow has previously used Tupolev Tu-95 and Tu-22 long-range bombers to launch missiles at Ukraine, while A-50s are used to coordinate targets and detect air defenses and guided missiles.

https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-sumy-region-18966d4b286ffb6f4e764b94a6afaf61

 

[That Guy 11200]

Upping the ante for peace, or for a greater conflict? I'd guess the latter but we will see soon enough.

Russia uses these strategic bombers to launch cruise missiles at Ukrainian cities. Hopefully, this action will reduce Russia's ability to murder civilians.

 

[Nithavela]

Surgical, efficient and devastating. No losses in personel and no place in Russia can feel safe anymore, which will increase the need for security and make operations more costly. If one would calculate the ratio of damage (both direct and for opportunity costs now spent on preventing another attack like this that might never materialise) to expended ressources, this might be a contender for the gold medal in recorded history. Militaries all over the world will be revising their security policies. Chapters will be written about this in books about modern warfare.

 

[7thKeeper]

The drones hit 41 planes stationed at military airfields on Sunday afternoon, including A-50, Tu-95 and Tu-22M aircraft, the official said. Moscow has previously used Tupolev Tu-95 and Tu-22 long-range bombers to launch missiles at Ukraine, while A-50s are used to coordinate targets and detect air defenses and guided missiles.

https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-sumy-region-18966d4b286ffb6f4e764b94a6afaf61

Also reading that a Tu-160 was also hit. Either way, depending on the damage, Russia just lost a significant amount of it's bomber fleet that it can't replace.

 

[ozso]

I wonder how cataclysmic Russia's retaliation is going to be.

 

[Pommer]

Upping the ante for peace, or for a greater conflict? I'd guess the latter but we will see soon enough.

If I’m remembering my schoolyard etiquette correctly, one needs to bloody the bully’s nose before he stops bothering you. Asking for them to “please be nice” doesn’t seem to work and more drastic measures are taken.
This is that.

 

[Pommer]

I wonder how cataclysmic Russia's retaliation is going to be.

Whatever it is, these planes won’t be a part of it!

 

[John G.]

If I’m remembering my schoolyard etiquette correctly, one needs to bloody the bully’s nose before he stops bothering you.

This wasn't a bloody nose, it was a slap in the face.
Zelenski - and whoever else was involved - better prepare for a punch in the jaw.

 

[Nithavela]

I wonder how cataclysmic Russia's retaliation is going to be.

This wasn't a bloody nose, it was a slap in the face.
Zelenski - and whoever else was involved - better prepare for a punch in the jaw.

This is war. If you don't hit your enemy where it hurts him because he might hit you back where it hurts you, you might as well capitulate. Especially after you hit your enemy where he might hit you back.

Besides that, some people are acting like Russia is still fighting with one arm behind his back after three years of gruelling war of attrition. Like they could just wipe Ukraine from the map in a few weeks if they only wanted. Ridiculous.

Imagine Britain facilitating the invasion of Normandy on D-Day and people starting to talk about how horrible the revenge bombings from Nazi germany will be.

 

[ozso]

This is probably going to go from cheering to weeping.

 

[Nithavela]

This is probably going to go from cheering to weeping.

Any predictions on what Russia will do that could be so much more horrible than what they are already inflicting on Ukraine?

 

[ozso]

Any predictions on what Russia will do that could be so much more horrible than what they are already inflicting on Ukraine?

Not really, other than it's probably going to be really awful.

 

[John G.]

Besides that, some people are acting like Russia is still fighting with one arm behind his back after three years of gruelling war of attrition

It is. Face it, despite individual acts of war crime, this has been a fairly "gentlemanly" non-war.
A lot of red lines have been crossed, that Russia has ignored, and I don't necessarily mean from Ukraine alone.
My guess is that Russian secret services will be investigating who exactly is behind this.
Ukraine will feel Russia's wrath very soon. Others may feel it a little while later.

 

[Nithavela]

It is. Face it, despite individual acts of war crime, this has been a fairly "gentlemanly" non-war.

Such a statement carries the same vibes as "fiery, but mostly peaceful", while in the background, shops are burning.

 

[Trogdor the Burninator]

Imagine Britain facilitating the invasion of Normandy on D-Day and people starting to talk about how horrible the revenge bombings from Nazi germany will be.

Some real mask-off moments already in this thread. I suspect we'll see more as the phony concern for Ukrainian casualties and civilians gives way to seething anger over the Russian losses and the feverish speculation over potential Russian retaliation.

 

[7thKeeper]

My guess is that Russian secret services will be investigating who exactly is behind this.

Not much to investigate. It was Ukrainians, who used Russian civilian truckers to carry the cargo to their destination (without knowing there were drones hidden in a compartment under the top of the containers), and the Ukrainians who were setting things up inside Russia had set up their temporary HQ next to FSBs headquarters and those people are already back in Ukraine.