Mon Jun 02 07:14:03 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary and rewrite of the provided text as a news article:

**Summary:**

Ukraine launched a large-scale drone attack on four military airfields deep inside Russia, causing significant damage and potentially destroying over 40 warplanes, including strategic bombers. The attack, planned for over a year, was executed by transporting FPV drones into Russia and launching them remotely. While Ukraine claims significant success, Russia acknowledges the attacks caused fires but denies casualties. The incident occurred as peace talks were being planned and escalates the conflict, putting pressure on Putin to retaliate and complicating Trump’s efforts to broker peace. The article also highlights other international news, including analysis of the Israel-Gaza situation, scrutiny of Harvard’s president amidst political pressures, the impact of Trump’s policies on foreign students, and Pakistan’s efforts to undermine India.

**News Article:**

**Ukraine Claims Major Drone Strike on Russian Airbases, Deepening Conflict**

**ISTANBUL (The Hindu) -** In a bold and potentially game-changing move, Ukraine has claimed responsibility for a large-scale drone attack on at least four Russian military airfields, some located thousands of kilometers from the front lines. The attacks, which occurred on Sunday, targeted airbases in the Ryazan, Ivanov, Murmansk and Irkutsk regions, spanning multiple time zones within Russia.

Unnamed officials from Ukraine’s Security Services (SBU) assert that the strikes “destroyed” over 40 Russian warplanes, including strategic bombers capable of carrying nuclear missiles, inflicting an estimated $7 billion in damages. President Zelenskyy hailed the operation as an “absolutely brilliant result.”

While Ukraine’s claims are yet to be independently verified, Russia’s Ministry of Defence confirmed that five regions came under drone attacks and that several aircraft in two bases, one near Norway and another in Siberia, caught fire. They stated that the fires were extinguished, other attacks were repelled, and there were no casualties. Russia also reported the collapse of two bridges in Kursk and Bryansk regions, near the Ukrainian border, due to alleged explosives, resulting in at least seven deaths and 76 injuries.

The timing of the attacks, on the eve of planned peace talks between Russian and Ukrainian officials in Istanbul, raises questions about the future of negotiations.

According to Ukrainian sources, the attack was meticulously planned for over a year. FPV drones were smuggled into Russia in wooden containers on trucks, positioned near the targets, and launched remotely.

If confirmed, the destruction of Russian strategic bombers would represent a significant blow to President Putin’s forces. The attack also exposed vulnerabilities in Russian air defenses and intelligence, prompting criticism from Russian military bloggers, some of whom likened it to “Russia’s Pearl Harbor.”

The escalation of the conflict also presents a challenge to U.S. President Trump’s efforts to mediate a peaceful resolution. The attacks come shortly after Trump criticized Putin for his own drone strikes in Ukraine, stating that he was “playing with fire.”

In related international news:

* Analyst Gideon Levy suggests that India can play a role in influencing the outcome of the Israel-Gaza conflict.
* A report analyzes the complexities of a potential ceasefire in Gaza.
* The Harvard president is under scrutiny for navigating political pressures.
* The impact of Trump’s policies on foreign students is examined.
* M.K. Narayanan discusses Pakistan’s efforts to undermine India’s progress.

Read More