A Ukrainian drone attack destroyed more than 40 Russian planes, according to media reports from Sunday, June 1. This comes a day before Russia and Ukraine are set for another round of peace talks in Istanbul.
The Associated Press spoke to a Ukrainian security official who said planning and executing the attack took over 1 1/2 years. It was supervised by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the security official told the AP.
Drones were taken to Russian terrority by trucks, the security official said.
The codename for the operation was “Spider Web,” the Kyiv Independent reported. The airfields targeted were the Belaya air base in Russia’s Irkutsk Oblast; the Olenya air base in Russia’s Murmansk Oblast; the Diaghilev airbase in Ryazan Oblast and Ivanovo airbase in Ivanovo Oblast.
The BBC wrote that Ukraine estimates the damage from the attacks is over $2 billion. A total 117 drones carried out what Zelenskyy called a “brilliant operation” on X the evening of Sunday, June 1. He confirmed the 1 1/2 year timeline as well.
“Russia suffered truly significant losses — entirely justified and deserved,” Zelenskyy said.
At least 12 Ukrainian service members killed in Russian strike
Meanwhile, on Sunday, June 1, Ukraine’s army said at least 12 Ukrainian service members were killed after a Russian missile strike on an army training unit. More than 60 people were wounded, the army said.
According to the AP, the training unit that suffered the attack is at the back of a 620-mile active front line. Russian reconnaissance and drones can strike there.
There is now an investigative commission looking into the attack, which caused Ukrainian army commander Mykhailo Drapatyi to resign.
Drapatyi said on Telegram that it was a “conscious step” dictated by a “personal sense of responsibility for the tragedy at the 239th training ground, which resulted in the deaths of our soldiers.”
The Ukrainian Ground Forces said in a statement that if the “actions or inaction of officials led to the death or injury of servicemen, those responsible will be held strictly accountable.”
Meanwhile, Russia’s Ministry of Defense said on June 1 that it took control of the village of Oleksiivka. Ukrainian authorities in Sumy ordered mandatory evacuations in 11 settlements in the area on Saturday, May 31.
Peace talks set for Monday, June 2 in Istanbul
Peace talks between Russia and Ukraine will take place on Monday, June 2. Ukrainian negotiators, per a document seen by Reuters, will give the Russians a “roadmap” for reaching a peace settlement.
The plan calls for a full ceasefire of at least 30 days, Reuters reported, as well as the return of all prisoners held on each side and Ukrainian children currently in Russian-held territory. In addition, the document from Ukrainian negotiators includes a meeting between Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Zelenskyy said on X Sunday, June 1 that he has heard reports from the Minister of Defense of Ukraine, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the General Staff, Ukraine’s intelligence agencies and the country’s Security Service, among others.
“We are doing everything to protect our independence, our state, and our people,” Zelenskyy said. “I outlined the tasks for the near term and also defined our positions ahead of the meeting in Istanbul on Monday.”
Ukraine’s delegation will be led by Rustem Umerov, Zelenskyy said.
Two United States Senators, Republican Lindsey Graham and Richard Blumenthal, who spoke to the Associated Press ahead of the talks, warned that Putin is stalling at them and preparing a new military offensive in Ukraine. Graham and Blumenthal met earlier with Zelenskyy and toured neighborhoods decimated by Russian assaults.
They said in an interview with the AP that a new bipartisan sanctions bill that includes 500% tariffs on countries that buy Russian oil, gas, uranium and other exports could be the last chance to crush Russia’s war economy.
