Ukraine Launches Devastating Drone Strike on Russian Airbases, Hits Over 40 Warplanes
Kyiv | June 1, 2025 — In a dramatic escalation of the war, Ukraine has launched what appears to be its most destructive drone assault yet, targeting multiple Russian airbases and reportedly damaging or destroying more than 40 military aircraft in a single coordinated strike.
According to sources within Ukraine’s security services, the overnight operation struck at least four major Russian airfields, with key targets including long-range strategic bombers such as the Tupolev Tu-95 and Tu-22M, both of which have been extensively used by Russia to launch cruise missile attacks on Ukrainian cities from deep inside Russian territory.
Footage circulating on social media and confirmed by several open-source intelligence analysts shows massive explosions and large aircraft engulfed in flames on the tarmac, suggesting a significant blow to Russia’s long-range aerial capabilities.
If verified, this would be Ukraine’s most damaging drone strike of the war so far — a powerful display of the country’s growing capability in asymmetric warfare, particularly with the use of long-range drones to strike deep behind enemy lines.
Military analysts say the success of such a strike demonstrates Ukraine’s strategic shift. Outmatched in conventional air power and missile stockpiles, Ukraine has increasingly turned to unmanned aerial systems (UAS) to carry out attacks that require lower risk and investment, but deliver high-impact results.
“The use of drones allows Ukraine to hit strategic targets that were previously out of reach,” said a defense expert in Kyiv. “It also sends a message to Moscow that nowhere is truly safe anymore.”
The timing of the attack is particularly striking. Just days earlier, Russian officials had reportedly proposed reopening ceasefire talks with Kyiv. However, the Ukrainian government has grown increasingly skeptical of Russia’s overtures, viewing them as tactics to buy time or weaken international support for Ukraine’s defense.
In response to Russia’s diplomatic gestures, Ukraine appears to have chosen to escalate militarily, with this drone operation serving as a sharp counterpoint to the idea of de-escalation.
Moscow has not released a full statement confirming the scale of the damage. However, regional Russian officials did report drone activity and explosions near several airfields overnight, acknowledging “infrastructure damage” and “temporary disruptions.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has not directly addressed the drone strikes, but in a morning statement, he praised Ukraine’s security services for their “precision and courage,” adding that “the war will not be won with words, but with action and resilience.”
This latest strike adds to a growing list of bold Ukrainian offensives targeting Russian military logistics, oil depots, and airfields—showcasing the evolving battlefield of 21st-century warfare, where drones are increasingly playing a decisive role.
As the conflict enters a new phase, this high-impact operation signals that Ukraine is willing—and able—to bring the fight to the very heart of Russia’s military infrastructure.
