Ukraine on Sunday claimed it launched a “large-scale” strike concentrating on Russian bombers in a daring escalation forward of cease-fire talks set for Monday in Istanbul.
Kyiv stated the long-range assault broken plane value an estimated $2 billion at air bases hundreds of kilometers away, simply hours after asserting {that a} lethal Russian strike had killed at the least 12 Ukrainian troopers at a coaching web site, prompting the resignation of its floor forces commander.
Meanwhile, Russian officers reported that two bridges in border areas collapsed because of explosions, which they’re treating as “acts of terrorism,” although they didn’t instantly assign blame.
The developments adopted renewed Russian floor advances in Ukraine’s northeastern Sumy area and heavy aerial bombardments by each side.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that Ukraine’s delegation to the Istanbul talks will probably be led by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov.
Türkiye is internet hosting the assembly, which was spurred by U.S. President Donald Trump’s push for a fast deal to finish the three-year struggle.
Zelenskyy, who beforehand voiced skepticism in regards to the seriousness of the Russian facet in proposing Monday’s assembly, stated he had outlined the Ukrainian delegation’s place going into it.
Priorities included “a complete and unconditional cease-fire” and the return of prisoners and kidnapped kids, he stated on social media.
Russia has stated it has formulated its personal peace phrases however refused to reveal them upfront. Russian President Vladimir Putin dominated out a Turkish proposal for the assembly to be held on the leaders’ stage.
Russian news businesses stated the Russian delegation was headed to Istanbul on Sunday for the talks.
Drone assaults inside Russia
The intensified strikes by each side got here as Kyiv and Moscow sought to indicate they had been negotiating from a place of energy.
A supply with Ukraine’s SBU safety service stated the coordinated assaults inside Russia had been “aimed at destroying enemy bombers far from the front.”
The supply stated Russian air bases within the japanese Siberian metropolis of Belaya, in Olenya close to the Arctic and near Finland, and in Ivanovo and Dyagilevo, each east of Moscow, had been focused.
More than 40 plane had been hit on the Belaya base, and a hearth broke on the market, the supply stated, exhibiting a video wherein a number of plane might be seen in flames and black smoke rising.
But the governor of Russia’s Irkutsk area, which hosts the Belaya air base, reported a “drone attack” on a village adjoining to the ability.
“It’s the first attack of this sort in Siberia,” Gov. Igor Kobzev stated, calling on the inhabitants to not panic. He posted an novice video apparently exhibiting a drone flying within the sky and a big cloud of grey smoke.
The governor of the Murmansk area, the place the Olenya base is situated, Andrey Chibis, additionally stated “enemy drones” had been flying overhead and that anti-aircraft defenses had been working.
Russia has been reporting Ukrainian drone assaults on an nearly every day foundation, often claiming they had been intercepted. But it’s uncommon for such strikes to be reported so deep inside Russian territory.
At the identical time, Russia has been finishing up fixed assaults on Ukraine.
On Sunday, Ukraine’s air power stated it was hit by 472 Russian drones and 7 missiles in a single day – a report for the reason that starting of the invasion.
In a uncommon admission of its navy losses, the Ukrainian military stated Russia’s “missile strike on the location of one of the training units” had killed a dozen troopers, most of whom had been in shelters through the assault.
“As of 12:50 p.m. (9:50 a.m. GMT), 12 people are known to have been killed and more than 60 wounded,” it stated.
The assault led Ukrainian floor forces commander Mykhailo Drapaty to announce his resignation, saying he felt “responsibility” for the troopers’ deaths.
Blasts collapse bridges
Separately on Sunday, the Russian military stated it had captured one other village in Ukraine’s northern Sumy area, the place Kyiv fears Moscow may mount a recent floor assault.
Russia claims to have captured a number of settlements within the area in latest weeks and has amassed greater than 50,000 troopers on the opposite facet of the border, in accordance with Zelenskyy.
Authorities within the area have evacuated greater than 200 villages amid intensified shelling.
Back in Russia, officers stated a blast introduced down a street bridge within the Bryansk area bordering Ukraine on Saturday, derailing a passenger practice heading to Moscow and killing seven folks.
A separate rail bridge within the neighboring Kursk area was blown up hours later within the early hours of Sunday, derailing a freight practice and injuring the motive force.
Authorities didn’t say who was behind the explosions, however investigators stated a felony inquiry was underway.
Source: www.dailysabah.com