Ukrainian intelligence successfully launched drone attacks on Russian strategic bombers stationed at various air bases, employing innovative tactics that involved concealing explosive-laden drones within wooden nesting structures.

These structures were transported by trucks to the vicinity of the airbases, allowing for a surprise assault.

According to an unnamed Ukrainian security official, the coordinated strikes on four military airfields on Sunday resulted in damage to a total of 41 Russian warplanes, including approximately one-third of Russia's strategic cruise missile bombers.

Verification of these claims by independent sources, including media outlets, remains unconfirmed.

President Volodymyr Zelensky praised the operation, describing it as Ukraine’s most extensive strike within Russian territory to date.

He characterized the results as 'extraordinarily impressive' and noted that the teams involved in the operation were successfully evacuated ahead of schedule from Russian territory.

Videos circulated on social media purportedly show strategic bombers engulfed in flames at the Belyay airbase in the Irkutsk region of Siberia, although the authenticity of these visuals has not been independently verified.

Irkutsk Governor Igor Kobzev confirmed that drones targeted a military unit near the village of Sredny, adjacent to Belyay airbase, specifying that the drones were launched from trucks.

The Ukrainian security agency estimated the Russian losses from this attack at around $7 billion, asserting that this figure represents the estimated cost of the strategic aviation capabilities damaged during the operation.

The attacks coincide with an announcement from Ukraine regarding a significant nighttime assault involving Russian drones aimed at its territory, marking the most extensive aerial assault since the onset of the conflict in February 2022.

Zelensky’s remarks came as Ukraine prepared to send a delegation to Istanbul for a second round of peace talks with Russia, scheduled for the following day.

In his statement, he emphasized Ukraine's priority of achieving a comprehensive, unconditional ceasefire, along with the return of prisoners of war and Ukrainian children allegedly taken by Russia.

The attack on the Irkutsk region is notable for being conducted more than 4,300 kilometers away from the front lines, challenging the operational range of Ukraine’s existing military capabilities.

Ukrainian sources stated that the operation, dubbed 'Spider's Web,' indicates a shift in the tactical landscape of the conflict.

Ukrainian military strategists have developed specialized planning to execute such remote attacks, which traditionally exceed the capabilities of Ukrainian drones and ballistic missiles.

Russian defense officials characterized the Ukrainian drone attacks as 'terroristic' assaults on their military airfields, claiming successful defense against all drone threats at facilities across various regions, including Ivanovo, Ryazan, and Amur.

They reported minor damages at Irkutsk due to drone attacks, noting that all fires had been extinguished without civilian or military injuries reported.

The escalation of drone warfare highlights the strategic complexities of the ongoing conflict and sets the stage for critical negotiations in Istanbul, which aim to facilitate a potential resolution to the hostilities that have persisted for nearly two years.

Previous negotiations have yielded limited results, although both sides continue to pursue dialogue amidst the backdrop of intense military operations.