Ukraine has destroyed 41 Russian aircraft across five airfields in a "genius" 18-month mission codenamed "Spider's Web".
The devastating attack occurred as Ukraine launched 117 first-person-view kamikaze drones into Russian territory, with Volodymyr Zelensky claiming "34 per cent of the strategic cruise missile carriers stationed at air bases were hit".
Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council stated that the ex-Soviet state destroyed a further 13 Russian planes this morning.
Andriy Kovalenko, the head of Ukraine's Centre for Countering Disinformation, also confirmed that some other planes were also damaged in the attack.
After a year-and-a-half of meticulous planning, the operation was executed yesterday afternoon after drones hidden in mobile wooden cabins were smuggled into Russia and released, taking out nuclear-capable aircraft.
Head of the Security Service of Ukraine, Vasyl Maliuk, looks over plans for the attack
Reuters
Ukraine destroyed 41 Russian aircraft
Reuters
The operation targeted five airfields stretching from northern Russia down to Siberia, positioned a safe 2,500 miles from Ukraine.
The strikes focused on aircraft, including Tu-95 and Tu-22M bombers, which Moscow has long stopped producing.
Among the destroyed aircraft were critical A-50 "Mainstay" surveillance planes, worth an estimated £250million each and used as radar and command centres. Russia is believed to have only around ten of these aircraft in operation, making their loss particularly significant for coordinating fighter jets and air defences.
The targeted bombers had been deliberately moved to bases thousands of miles away from Ukraine, positioned beyond the 185-mile range of Western-donated Storm Shadow and ATACMS missiles.
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Footage shows one of the drones leaving a lorry
Footage shows the damage from the drone strike
Reuters
The FPV drones, which have a range of just 12 miles, would have been the last thing on the Russians' minds.
Once the lorries were within range of the targeted airfields, the roofs of the wooden cabins were opened remotely to release the drones.
Zelensky claimed the operation eliminated a third of Russia's strategic bomber fleet, describing it as undoubtedly destined for the history books.
He said: "What's most interesting is that the 'office' of our operation on Russian territory was located directly next to FSB headquarters in one of their regions.
"In total, 117 drones were used in the operation, with a corresponding number of drone operators involved, and 34 per cent of the strategic cruise missile carriers stationed at air bases were hit. We will continue this work."
Aftermath of one of the drone strikes in Russia
Reuters
Zelensky and Maliuk shake hands
Reuters
The rise in attacks from both Ukraine and Russia comes despite delegates for both nations meeting in Turkey for the next round of peace talks.
Vladimir Putin is set to dismiss his intelligence chiefs following the attack.
An insider stated that Putin "will hit back at Ukraine, but also avenge his underlings who allowed this humiliation to happen."
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