• A Ukrainian drone attack reportedly destroyed more than 40 Russian aircraft in Irkutsk.
• The operation was personally supervised by President Zelenskyy and took over a year to execute.
• This marked the first sighting of Ukrainian drones in the region, signaling a new phase in the conflict.
• As tensions rise, Russia launched over 470 drones against Ukraine in response.
• Ukraine's military suffered casualties from a Russian missile strike just hours after the attack.

A Ukrainian drone attack has destroyed more than 40 Russian planes deep within Russian territory, according to a Ukrainian security official. This significant military operation took over a year and a half to execute and was personally supervised by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The drones were transported in containers and successfully hit several airfields, including the Belaya air base in Russia’s Irkutsk region, which is located over 2,500 miles from Ukraine, marking the first instance of a Ukrainian drone being operationally deployed in that area, as noted by local Governor Igor Kobzeva...

The attack coincided with a significant escalation in hostilities, as Russia launched its largest aerial assault on Ukraine since the invasion began in February 2022, deploying 472 drones and seven missiles. This marks a new peak in the ongoing conflict, with reports from Ukrainian air force officials emphasizing the severity of the recent drone barrage. In a tragic response, a Russian missile strike resulted in at least 12 Ukrainian service members killed and over 60 others injured in a separate incident earlier that day...

On the diplomatic front, Ukraine's President Zelenskyy announced that a delegation will head to Istanbul for new peace talks aimed at resolving the conflict with Russia. Defense Minister Rustem Umerov will lead the Ukrainian team, with Zelenskyy stating, “We are doing everything to protect our independence, our state and our people.” Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials have urged the Kremlin to provide a promised memorandum outlining its stance on ending the war before these discussions take place...

As the situation unfolds, Russian forces have claimed to gain control over the village of Oleksiivka in Ukraine's northern Sumy region, compelling local authorities to order mandatory evacuations in several nearby settlements due to escalating conflict risks. Ukrainian military chief Oleksandr Syrskyi underscored that Russian forces are intensifying their offensive efforts in Donetsk, specifically targeting strategic areas such as Pokrovsk, Toretsk, and Lyman...