By Maria Varenikova, Anastasia Kuznietsova, and Nataliya Vasilyeva

In one of its most extensive aerial operations since the start of the war, Ukraine carried out a large-scale drone assault on multiple Russian air bases on Sunday, striking targets from Russia’s western border to deep in eastern Siberia.

Russia’s Defense Ministry confirmed the attacks, stating that airfields in five different regions were targeted by Ukrainian drones. The ministry reported that several aircraft caught fire in the Murmansk region, near Norway, and in Irkutsk, located in Siberia. According to the ministry, other attempted strikes were intercepted, and no casualties were reported.

The attacks marked a significant escalation in the conflict, now entering its fourth year. At the same time, Ukraine experienced a heavy loss of its own. A Russian missile strike hit a Ukrainian military training facility, reportedly killing at least 12 soldiers.

Sunday’s developments underscored the intensifying nature of the war, just ahead of a planned new round of cease-fire negotiations set for Monday in Istanbul. While Russian forces have increased their offensive operations in Ukraine and continued strikes on major cities, Ukrainian officials have accused Moscow of using the talks to delay and regroup.

Despite ongoing diplomatic efforts, the latest attacks from both sides suggest that a peaceful resolution remains elusive as hostilities grow more intense.