Efficient Aircraft Elimination: Fighter-Bomber Annihilation - Enemy fighter bombers eliminated: Ukraine launches assault on Siberian bases
Title: Prime-Time Drone Wars: Ukraine's High-Stakes Skirmish against Russian Stratobombers, Revealed
Let's dive into the intriguing tale of a nocturnal cat-and-mouse game that unfolded in the heart of Russia, a game between Ukraine's clandestine team and Mother Russia's air bases.
- ** aprox. 4 Min read*
Ticking the clock just a day prior to the anticipated face-off between peace representatives from Ukraine and Russia in Istanbul, the stage was set for a thrilling spectacle. Ukraine's covert forces staged a series of "major offensive operations," targeting four key military support bases deep within Russia's territories, according to Kyiv's claims. The main targets, as per sources from Ukraine's SBU intelligence service, were the Belaya Air Force Base, nestled in East Siberia approximately 4,200 kilometers south of Ukraine, and three additional support points in Dyagilevo, Ivanovo, and Olenya (in the Murmansk region)—located around 1,900 kilometers from Ukraine.
Belaya Airbase under Siege: The Hidden Assault with a Difference
The daring objective? To topple enemy fighter-bombers, as insiders revealed. The groundwork for this audacious bid had reportedly been in the works for quite some time. Besides the Belaya Air Force Base, the operations targeted strategic assets in Dyagilevo, Ivanovo (both east of Moscow), and the base in Olenya (in the Russian Arctic).
Following the assault, a massive blaze erupted at the Belaya base, according to the SBU source. Although a video claiming to depict the aftermath of the airbase in Belaya, featuring multiple burning planes and dense black smoke, could not be independently verified by AFP, the gruesome visuals were circulating like wildfire online.
However, a somewhat contrasting account was offered by the governor of the Irkutsk region, Igor Kobzev, who reported a "drone attack" on the village of Sredniy—located adjacent to the air base in Belaya. Meanwhile, the governor of the Murmansk region confirmed that enemy drones were looming overhead, with air defense active.
Sabotage Strikes: Bridges, Trains, and Population
Furthermore, Russian officials reported two bridge collapses in border regions with Ukraine. The incidents occurred during the night and claimed seven lives, with 71 reported injuries in Bryansk. The site of carnage was around 100 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, while a freight train was involved in the second collapse in Kursk. Authorities have classified these incidents as "terrorist acts". However, Ukraine hasn't made any public remarks regarding these incidents.
Kyiv has been accused by Russian authorities of perpetrating several similar incidents related to railway traffic. The Ukrainians allege that Moscow utilizes the railway system for the transportation of troops and war supplies to Ukraine.
Relentless attacks continued over the weekend in Ukraine, as evidenced by Russia's intense air barrage. Approximately 472 drones were unleashed at Ukraine overnight, causing significant damage, with a record 385 drones neutralized.
The Frontline Crisis: Ukrainian Soliders Fall, Mykola Drapatyj Resigns
A shocking army training ground attack left at least twelve Ukrainian soldiers dead and over sixty injured, according to Ukrainian military reports. As a result, the Ukrainian army commander, Mychajlo Drapatyj, tendered his resignation, expressing a sense of "personal accountability" for the losses.
Ukraine also feels the heavy weight of the imminent threat of a massive Russian offensive in its eastern border region of Sumy. The concerns escalated following Zelensky's assertion that Russia had accumulated over 50,000 soldiers in the region. On Saturday, authorities urged the evacuation of 11 villages in the border region. Recent reports suggest that the Russian army has occupied several villages in Sumy, while announcing the seizure of yet another village in the region on Sunday.
Peace negotiations: A Step Forward or a False Dawn?
Amid the ongoing hostilities, Ukraine and Russia are slated to continue their direct peace talks in Istanbul on Monday. Initially uncertain about sending a delegation to the second round of discussions, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has confirmed his commitment to attend the talks, leading the Ukrainian delegation as the Defense Minister, Rustem Umerov. The Russian delegation departed for Istanbul shortly after Zelensky's announcement. Although Zelensky accused Russia of undermining negotiations by not presenting an announced "memorandum" outlining their conditions, the Russian side continued to execute intense air raids on Ukraine over the weekend.
Additional Insights:The conflict between Ukraine and Russia has been ongoing since 2014, with both sides employing innovative strategies and preferring to fight with minimal human casualties. The use of drones in the conflict is a prime example of this shift in strategy, aimed at maximizing military effectiveness while minimizing the loss of troops and resources.
This section provides historical context but is not essential for understanding the current situation.
The conflict escalated in 2021, when Russia started supporting pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine, resulting in the annexation of Crimea. This move led to widespread international condemnation, economic sanctions, and diplomatic isolation for Russia. Since then, both Ukraine and Russia have been engaged in a bitter struggle in eastern Ukraine, with the ceasefire being repeatedly violated.
In the spring of 2022, rumors about a large-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine started circulating. Tensions escalated further when over 150,000 Russian troops began massing near Ukraine's borders in February 2022, fueling concerns about a possible invasion. The stalemate between Ukraine and Russia persists, with both sides hoping to gain a decisive advantage in the ongoing struggle for territory and influence.
- The community institution of Ukraine, in collaboration with the institution of the Union, has been actively monitoring the escalating political crisis and war-and-conflicts in Ukraine, providing general news updates about the clandestine operations initiated by Ukraine's forces against Russian military bases.
- As the political tensions between Ukraine and the institution of the Union, specifically Russia, remain high, the general news coverage has been dominated by the ongoing war-and-conflicts, peace negotiations, and the impact of these events on the community institution, particularly the lives of the Ukrainian citizens and soldiers.
