Kiev attacked military airfields in 5 Russian regions, 1st in Siberia
4 Min Read
A drone strike on a military facility in Russia’s Irkutsk Region on Sunday is reportedly the first in Siberia.
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Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky gestures during a news conference at the chancellery in Berlin, Germany, on May 28, 2025. (AP)
A military facility in Russia’s Irkutsk Region came under drone attack on Sunday, marking what local officials say is the first such strike in Siberia. Regional Governor Igor Kobzev confirmed that drones targeted the area near the settlement of Sredny, roughly 150 kilometers from Lake Baikal and 70 kilometers from the regional capital, Irkutsk.
One of the drones also reportedly struck an abandoned building in the nearby village of Novomaltinsk, according to Kobzev. He stated that the drones were launched from a small truck, although the total number of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) involved remains unconfirmed. Footage circulating on social media, so far unverified, suggests that at least three drones were used in the operation.
BreakingNews ⚠️#Ukraine just hit #Russia’s nuclear-capable bomber bases 1,800-4,000km deep inside 🇷🇺
— BELAL 𓂆🇵🇸 (@sbqureshii) June 1, 2025
Targets: Tu-22M3, Tu-95MS, Tu-160.
Method
FPV drone swarms launched from stealth truck-mounted cabins.
Result: 40+ aircraft claimed hit.
Massive retaliation is expected from 🇷🇺 pic.twitter.com/QEtI1r8wRl
Kobzev assured the public that the launch site had been “blocked” and that there was “no threat to the lives and health of civilians."
Emergency services and law enforcement agencies were deployed to the scene.
While Governor Kobzev refrained from assigning responsibility, reports in both Russian and Ukrainian media have indicated that Kiev may have been behind the strike.
Ukraine escalates drone strikes as peace talks loom
Ukraine has intensified drone attacks deep inside Russian territory in recent weeks, even as diplomatic efforts continue to seek an end to the conflict. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused Kiev of trying to sabotage the negotiation process through these strikes.
In retaliation, Moscow has carried out targeted strikes on Ukrainian defense industry facilities, military assembly points, and storage depots.
In one attack, the Russian armed forces fired an Iskander missile at a tent camp of Ukrainian troops that amassed near the city of Novomoskovsk (Samar) in Dnepropetrovsk (Dnipropetrovsk) region, the Russian Defense Ministry explained.
It shared the footage of the strike on the camp of Ukraine’s 158th and 33rd separate motorized rifle brigades at the Novomoskovsk (Samar) training grounds, not far from the village of Gvardeiskoye (Zarichne).
The recent drone attack on a military installation in Irkutsk coincided with reports of a similar incident in Russia’s northern Murmansk Region. While details about the Murmansk strike remain limited, the timing underscores a broader escalation in cross-border attacks.
Putin-Zelensky-Trump summit doable if Istanbul talks succeed: Kremlin
Talks about preparing contacts between Russian President Vladimir Putin, US President Donald Trump, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky depend entirely on the success of ongoing negotiations between the Russian and Ukrainian delegations, the Kremlin announced on Friday.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters that such high-level contacts would only be considered if “a result is achieved” through direct talks.
"First, a result must be achieved in direct negotiations between the two countries. After that, if such a result is achieved, and when such a result is achieved, then, of course, we can talk about contacts at the highest level [between Putin, Trump and Zelensky]," Peskov told reporters.
He emphasized that Putin remains open to such engagements in principle.
Russian delegation heads to Istanbul for second round
Peskov confirmed that the Russian delegation is en route to Istanbul to participate in a second round of direct negotiations with Ukrainian representatives. Talks are set to resume Monday morning, continuing efforts to bring an end to the ongoing conflict.
The diplomat confirmed that Russia will not disclose details of its draft memorandum on the Ukrainian settlement ahead of the upcoming negotiations.
Ceasefire, Black Sea safety on the negotiation agenda
Peskov also addressed the Black Sea grain initiative, stating that the current focus is centered on the broader context of Russia-Ukraine peace talks.
A temporary ceasefire framework is reportedly under discussion, along with navigation safety in the Black Sea.
“The safety of navigation in the Black Sea will one way or another become an integral part of likely future understandings,” he said.
Turning to broader geopolitical issues, Peskov commented on Moscow’s longstanding opposition to NATO expansion, stating that Russia’s position is now better understood in Washington amid ongoing diplomatic efforts.
