Mon Jun 02 06:45:45 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary and a rewritten news article based on the provided text:
**Summary:**
On June 2, 2025, amidst escalating tensions, Ukraine launched a drone attack deep within Russian territory, reportedly destroying over 40 Russian planes. The sophisticated operation, years in the making and personally overseen by President Zelenskyy, involved transporting drones via trucks into Russia. Simultaneously, Russia launched a massive drone and missile assault on Ukraine, resulting in casualties, including the death of at least 12 Ukrainian service members. The day’s events unfolded ahead of planned peace talks in Istanbul, where Ukraine’s delegation will be led by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov. Amidst the conflict, Russia claims to have captured the village of Oleksiivka in the Sumy region, prompting evacuations. Ukrainian army commander Mykhailo Drapatyi submitted his resignation following the attack.
**News Article:**
**Ukraine Claims Major Drone Strike Inside Russia Ahead of Peace Talks**
**KYIVA (June 2, 2025)** – In a bold move ahead of crucial peace negotiations in Istanbul, Ukraine has claimed responsibility for a devastating drone strike deep within Russian territory. According to a Ukrainian security official speaking anonymously, the attack destroyed over 40 Russian aircraft stationed at multiple airfields, including the Belaya air base located in Russia’s Irkutsk region, over 4,000 kilometers from Ukraine.
The official stated the operation, meticulously planned over a year and a half and personally supervised by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, involved transporting drones in containers aboard trucks into Russia. Local Russian officials have confirmed drone activity in multiple regions, including Ryazan and Murmansk.
The attack occurred on the same day Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine would send a delegation, led by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, to Istanbul for direct peace talks with Russia.
The timing of the strike comes as Russia launched what Ukraine claims was its largest drone attack since the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022, deploying a staggering 472 drones and seven missiles. The Ukrainian air force reported that at least 12 service members were killed and over 60 injured in a Russian missile strike on a training unit. Following the attack, Ukrainian army commander Mykhailo Drapatyi submitted his resignation.
Adding to the complexities, Russia’s Ministry of Defense announced the capture of the village of Oleksiivka in Ukraine’s Sumy region, where mandatory evacuations have been ordered in eleven settlements. Ukrainian military leaders report that Russian forces are concentrating their offensive efforts on several key areas, including Pokrovsk, Toretsk, Lyman, and the Sumy border region.
The Istanbul peace talks are seen as a critical opportunity to de-escalate the ongoing conflict, though the latest developments may complicate negotiations.
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