We’re pausing our coverage

Thanks for following our coverage on what was a busy day of updates in the war in Ukraine.

We’re pausing our live updates for now, but will be back with more tomorrow. Before we go, here’s a summary of all the key developments:

Ukraine launched one of its most surprising moves of the war so far with strikes on multiple airbases deep in Russia.

The country’s secret service said more than 40 military aircraft were hit, with a source telling Sky News that the drones targeted aircraft responsible for bombing Ukrainian cities every night.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy heaped praise on the “absolutely brilliant result” and said it would “undoubtedly be in the history books”.

“Ukraine is defending itself, and rightly so – we are doing everything to make Russia feel the need to end this war,” he added.

“Russia started this war, Russia must end it.”

Watch: Aftermath of Ukrainian strikes on Russian bombers

Ukraine’s security services estimate that the cost “of the enemy’s strategic aviation” hit in the attack is $7bn, with 34% of Russia’s strategic missile carriers struck.

Meanwhile, Russia’s defence ministry accused Ukraine of launching a “terrorist attack” on multiple airbases.

Away from the battlefield, there were plenty of updates ahead of tomorrow’s meeting between Russia and Ukraine around the negotiating table, which we’ve broken down below.

Peace talks

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has confirmed that defence minister Rustem Umerov will attend peace talks with Russia in Turkey tomorrow;

But Ukraine’s president said the “key issues” can “only be resolved by the leaders”;

Turkey’s foreign ministry has confirmed that talks are expected to start at 11am UK time at Ciragan Palace;

Ukrainian negotiators plan to propose a 30-day ceasefire and the return of all prisoners held by each side at the talks.

Two bridges collapse

In this image taken from video released June 1, 2025, by a source in the Ukrainian Security Service shows a Ukrainian drone striking Russian planes deep in Russia’s territory. (AP image)

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⚡️BREAKING

Ukraine has pulled out one of the most crazy military operations that damaged several Russian nuclear bombers

Modified containers capable of launching drones where somehow smuggled into Russia

The drones were launched autonomously from the backs of trucks parked… pic.twitter.com/wJgLSynf3z undefined Iran Observer (@IranObserver0) June 1, 2025

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( Originally published on Jun 01, 2025 )

Ukraine on Sunday shocked President Vladimir Putin after Kyiv had launched drone strikes targeting Russian military airfields in multiple locations and destroying more than 40 fighter jets. The FPV drones strikes occurred in the Murmansk, Irkutsk, Ivanovo, Ryazan, and Amur regions. Air defences repelled the assaults in all but two regions — Murmansk and Irkutsk, the Russian Defence ministry said.On the eve of peace talks, Ukraine and Russia sharply ramped up the war with one of the biggest drone battles of their conflict, a Russian highway bridge blown up over a passenger train and an ambitious attack on nuclear-capable bombers deep in Siberia.At least seven people were killed and 69 injured when a highway bridge in Russia’s Bryansk region, neighbouring Ukraine, was blown up over a passenger train heading to Moscow with 388 people on board. No one has yet claimed responsibility.Ukraine attacked Russian nuclear-capable long-range bombers at a military base deep in Siberia on Sunday, a Ukrainian intelligence official said, the first such attack so far from the front lines more than 4,300 km (2,670 miles) away.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed that it had deployed 117 drones in a massive attack against Russian airbases that he called “our most long-range operation” in more than three years of war. “34 percent of the strategic cruise missile carriers at the airfields were hit,” the Ukraine’s President stated.The attack took over one and 1/2-year to execute and was personally supervised by Zelenskyy, AP reported on Sunday quoting a Ukrainian security official.The operation saw drones transported in containers carried by trucks deep into Russian territory. The drones reportedly hit 41 planes stationed at several airfields on Sunday afternoon, including A-50, Tu-95 and Tu-22M aircraft, the official said.The official said the operation involved hiding explosive-laden drones inside the roofs of wooden sheds and loading them onto trucks that were driven to the perimeter of the air bases.Reports have claimed that Ukraine managed to smuggle modified truck containers, which were equipped with capabilities for launching drones, into Russian territory. These trucks were reportedly stationed near Russian nuclear bombers’ bases. Ukrainian drones were launched autonomously from the backs of containers, as per a report on Iran Observer.A1. Ukrainian President is Volodymyr Zelenskyy.A2. President of Russia is Vladimir Putin.

We’re pausing our coverage

Thanks for following our coverage on what was a busy day of updates in the war in Ukraine.

We’re pausing our live updates for now, but will be back with more tomorrow. Before we go, here’s a summary of all the key developments:

Ukraine launched one of its most surprising moves of the war so far with strikes on multiple airbases deep in Russia.

The country’s secret service said more than 40 military aircraft were hit, with a source telling Sky News that the drones targeted aircraft responsible for bombing Ukrainian cities every night.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy heaped praise on the “absolutely brilliant result” and said it would “undoubtedly be in the history books”.

“Ukraine is defending itself, and rightly so – we are doing everything to make Russia feel the need to end this war,” he added.

“Russia started this war, Russia must end it.”

Watch: Aftermath of Ukrainian strikes on Russian bombers

Ukraine’s security services estimate that the cost “of the enemy’s strategic aviation” hit in the attack is $7bn, with 34% of Russia’s strategic missile carriers struck.

Meanwhile, Russia’s defence ministry accused Ukraine of launching a “terrorist attack” on multiple airbases.

Away from the battlefield, there were plenty of updates ahead of tomorrow’s meeting between Russia and Ukraine around the negotiating table, which we’ve broken down below.

Peace talks

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has confirmed that defence minister Rustem Umerov will attend peace talks with Russia in Turkey tomorrow;

But Ukraine’s president said the “key issues” can “only be resolved by the leaders”;

Turkey’s foreign ministry has confirmed that talks are expected to start at 11am UK time at Ciragan Palace;

Ukrainian negotiators plan to propose a 30-day ceasefire and the return of all prisoners held by each side at the talks.

Two bridges collapse

We’re pausing our coverage

Thanks for following our coverage on what was a busy day of updates in the war in Ukraine.

We’re pausing our live updates for now, but will be back with more tomorrow. Before we go, here’s a summary of all the key developments:

Ukraine launched one of its most surprising moves of the war so far with strikes on multiple airbases deep in Russia.

The country’s secret service said more than 40 military aircraft were hit, with a source telling Sky News that the drones targeted aircraft responsible for bombing Ukrainian cities every night.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy heaped praise on the “absolutely brilliant result” and said it would “undoubtedly be in the history books”.

“Ukraine is defending itself, and rightly so – we are doing everything to make Russia feel the need to end this war,” he added.

“Russia started this war, Russia must end it.”

Watch: Aftermath of Ukrainian strikes on Russian bombers

Ukraine’s security services estimate that the cost “of the enemy’s strategic aviation” hit in the attack is $7bn, with 34% of Russia’s strategic missile carriers struck.

Meanwhile, Russia’s defence ministry accused Ukraine of launching a “terrorist attack” on multiple airbases.

Away from the battlefield, there were plenty of updates ahead of tomorrow’s meeting between Russia and Ukraine around the negotiating table, which we’ve broken down below.

Peace talks

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has confirmed that defence minister Rustem Umerov will attend peace talks with Russia in Turkey tomorrow;

But Ukraine’s president said the “key issues” can “only be resolved by the leaders”;

Turkey’s foreign ministry has confirmed that talks are expected to start at 11am UK time at Ciragan Palace;

Ukrainian negotiators plan to propose a 30-day ceasefire and the return of all prisoners held by each side at the talks.

Two bridges collapse

We’re pausing our coverage

Thanks for following our coverage on what was a busy day of updates in the war in Ukraine.

We’re pausing our live updates for now, but will be back with more tomorrow. Before we go, here’s a summary of all the key developments:

Ukraine launched one of its most surprising moves of the war so far with strikes on multiple airbases deep in Russia.

The country’s secret service said more than 40 military aircraft were hit, with a source telling Sky News that the drones targeted aircraft responsible for bombing Ukrainian cities every night.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy heaped praise on the “absolutely brilliant result” and said it would “undoubtedly be in the history books”.

“Ukraine is defending itself, and rightly so – we are doing everything to make Russia feel the need to end this war,” he added.

“Russia started this war, Russia must end it.”

Watch: Aftermath of Ukrainian strikes on Russian bombers

Ukraine’s security services estimate that the cost “of the enemy’s strategic aviation” hit in the attack is $7bn, with 34% of Russia’s strategic missile carriers struck.

Meanwhile, Russia’s defence ministry accused Ukraine of launching a “terrorist attack” on multiple airbases.

Away from the battlefield, there were plenty of updates ahead of tomorrow’s meeting between Russia and Ukraine around the negotiating table, which we’ve broken down below.

Peace talks

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has confirmed that defence minister Rustem Umerov will attend peace talks with Russia in Turkey tomorrow;

But Ukraine’s president said the “key issues” can “only be resolved by the leaders”;

Turkey’s foreign ministry has confirmed that talks are expected to start at 11am UK time at Ciragan Palace;

Ukrainian negotiators plan to propose a 30-day ceasefire and the return of all prisoners held by each side at the talks.

Two bridges collapse