Trump not briefed on Ukraine drone strikes, White House claims
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The White House confirms that US President Donald Trump was not informed in advance about Ukraine’s drone strikes targeting Russian airfields.
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White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks during a briefing at the White House on June 3, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
US President Donald Trump was not briefed in advance about Ukraine’s drone strikes on Russian airfields, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed on Tuesday.
“He was not,” Leavitt said in response to a question about whether Trump had been informed by Ukrainian officials before the attacks.
This comes after The Independent reported on Monday, citing reports, that Trump was not informed in advance about Ukraine's unprecedented drone strike.
Ukrainian security sources told CBS News that Ukraine’s "large-scale" drone attack penetrated deep into Russian territory, destroying military bombers and striking five bases. The attack, personally supervised by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, took a year and a half of planning.
On Sunday, a military facility in Russia’s Irkutsk Region came under drone attack, 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.
It is worth noting that Ukraine intensified its 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.
