On Sunday, Ukraine announced the destruction of Russian bombers valued at billions of dollars in a daring strike that reached as far as Siberia, marking its most extensive attack of the conflict. This operation coincided with preparations for discussions aimed at establishing a ceasefire.

In a dramatic statement, Ukrainian officials claimed that they inflicted damage worth $7 billion on Russian aircraft stationed at four airbases located thousands of kilometers away, with unverified footage depicting planes engulfed in flames and thick smoke.

According to sources from Ukraine’s SBU security services, the strikes targeted 41 aircraft used to “bomb Ukrainian villages.”

The drones employed in the attack were reportedly hidden within the ceilings of transportation containers, which were opened to launch them during the operation.

This meticulously planned mission took place at a critical juncture, three years into Russia’s ongoing invasion.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced a delegation would be sent to Istanbul, led by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, for discussions with Russian officials on Monday.

Turkey is facilitating the meeting, which has been influenced by U.S. President Donald Trump’s call for a swift resolution to the prolonged conflict.

Zelensky, who had expressed doubts regarding Russia’s sincerity about attending the talks, stated that objectives included achieving “a complete and unconditional ceasefire” along with the return of prisoners and abducted children.

Russia has previously dismissed ceasefire proposals.

The Kremlin asserted that it has developed its own peace terms, but declined to share them beforehand.

Zelensky praised the “brilliant” success of the coordinated operation codenamed “Spider’s Web,” which utilized 117 drones and was described as Ukraine’s “most extended operation” in over three years of warfare.

Russia’s Defense Ministry acknowledged that some of its military aircraft “caught fire,” while reporting no casualties.

Rybar, a Telegram channel affiliated with the Russian military, called it a “significant blow” to Moscow, citing what it described as “serious errors” on the part of Russian intelligence.

The SBU source indicated that the strikes were aimed at Russian airbases in Belaya, a city in eastern Siberia, Olenya in the Arctic near Finland, and in Ivanovo and Dyagilevo, both situated to the east of Moscow.

This operation was reportedly in preparation for over a year and a half, with the goal of eliminating “enemy bombers far from the front lines.”

Zelensky noted that one of the targeted locations was adjacent to an office of Russia’s FSB security services.

Russia claimed to have detained several suspects, including the driver of a truck from which a drone was launched, according to state media reports.

However, Zelensky remarked that those involved in orchestrating the attacks had been “extracted from Russian territory in time.”

The SBU announced via social media that it had successfully struck Russian military planes worth a combined total of $7 billion during a “special operation.”

Igor Kobzev, the Governor of Irkutsk region in Russia, which houses the targeted Belaya airbase, stated that this was “the first attack of its kind in Siberia.”

He urged residents to remain calm and shared an amateur video seemingly showing a drone in flight along with a large plume of grey smoke.

Russia has been frequently reporting on Ukrainian drone strikes, usually claiming all had been intercepted.

Meanwhile, Russia has been conducting continuous assaults on Ukraine.

On Sunday, Ukraine’s Air Force reported being struck by 472 Russian drones and seven missiles overnight—marking a record since the start of the invasion.

In a rare acknowledgment of military losses, the Ukrainian army noted that a Russian missile strike on one of its training units resulted in the deaths of a dozen soldiers, most of whom were in shelter during the attack, and injured more than 60 others.

This incident prompted Ukrainian ground forces commander Mykhailo Drapaty to resign, citing his “responsibility” for the soldiers’ fatalities.

Separately, the Russian military declared it had seized another village in Ukraine’s northern Sumy region, raising concerns in Kyiv about the possibility of a renewed ground offensive by Moscow.