Ukrainian Drones Strike Russian Air Bases, Raising Stakes Before Peace Talks

Ukraine launched drone strikes on two Russian air bases on Sunday, June 1st, 2025, according to videos verified by The New York Times. The attacks, part of a broader aerial assault, targeted Olenya Air Base in the Murmansk region and another location in Irkutsk. Footage shows multiple fires and explosions at the Olenya base, with several aircraft appearing to be engulfed in flames. A Ukrainian official claimed that dozens of Russian planes were damaged, a claim that has not been independently verified. Russia, however, stated that the attacks were repelled. These events took place just before scheduled peace talks in Istanbul, adding to the complexity of the ongoing conflict. The video evidence provides a stark visual representation of the ongoing tensions between the two countries and the escalating nature of the conflict. The contrasting claims from both sides highlight the challenges in verifying information in a war zone, emphasizing the need for independent verification of reports.