Ukrainians claim to have destroyed over 40 military aircraft deep inside Russian territory

(Patria) - Ukraine claims to have destroyed more than 40 Russian aircraft in a drone attack deep inside Russian territory.

This was announced to the Associated Press by a Ukrainian security official, who requested anonymity.

He also stated that the attack had been in preparation for more than a year and a half, and that it was personally overseen by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Zelensky confirmed that Ukraine will send a delegation to Istanbul on June 2 for a new round of direct peace talks with Russia, despite at least 12 Ukrainian soldiers being killed in a Russian attack today, along with the largest drone attack since the beginning of the war.

In a statement on his Telegram channel, Zelensky stated today that the Ukrainian delegation will be led by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov.

Ukrainian SBU security service sources tell @FT the agency is conducting "a large-scale special operation to destroy enemy bomber aircraft" deep inside Russia.

"SBU drones are targeting aircraft that bomb Ukrainian cities every night. At this point, more than 40 aircraft have… pic.twitter.com/a3YwQB8ZC5

— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) June 1, 2025

"We are doing everything to protect our independence, our state, and our people," Zelensky added.

Ukrainian officials had previously called on the Kremlin to provide the promised memorandum outlining its position on ending the war before the meeting.

Moscow had previously stated that it would release the memorandum during the negotiations. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova had previously said that Russia would send the same negotiating team as on May 16.

The first direct peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, since the unsuccessful ones held for weeks after Russia launched its invasion of its neighbor in February 2022, were also held in Istanbul on May 16.

No agreement was reached on a ceasefire, and Ukraine and Russia agreed to exchange 1,000 prisoners of war each.