Latest news with #Murmansk
Russia Today
a day ago
- Politics
- Russia Today
Ukraine failed to destroy Russian planes in drone raid
None of the Russian aircraft targeted in Ukraine's recent drone attacks were destroyed, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov has said. The aircraft sustained damage but will be repaired, he told TASS In an interview published on Wednesday. Ukrainian drones struck several Russian airbases on Sunday, in a coordinated assault across five regions, from Murmansk in the Arctic to Irkutsk in Siberia. Kiev has claimed that the strikes damaged or destroyed approximately 40 Russian military aircraft, including Tu-95 and Tu-22 long-range bombers. Moscow, however, has dismissed both the numbers and extent of damage. 'The equipment in question, as also stated by the Defense Ministry, was not destroyed, but damaged. It will be restored,' Ryabkov said, responding to a question about whether the strikes had affected strategic stability. Kiev's claims about the results of the attack have been inconsistent, Ryabkov claimed. 'There is nothing even remotely close' to the damage levels quoted by Kiev, he said, urging reporters to rely only on information shared through the Russian Defense Ministry's official channels. The official also stated that prior to the recent phone call between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Moscow had raised concerns with Washington that US officials had not responded to the attack. Trump had reportedly insisted to Putin that the US had no prior knowledge of Kiev's plans to strike Russian airfields, according to the Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov. On Thursday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov also confirmed that Putin and had told Trump a Russian response to the strikes is inevitable and that it would be carried out at the discretion of the Russian military. Putin has accused the 'illegitimate regime in Kiev' of carrying out terrorist attacks and 'gradually turning into a terrorist organization.' Shortly after the Trump-Putin phone call on Wednesday, the US Embassy in Kiev issued a security alert, warning of a 'continued risk of significant air attacks.' The US State Department has advised Americans currently in Ukraine to identify shelter locations in advance and keep reserves of water, food, and medication. Moscow has repeatedly condemned Ukraine's continued drone strikes and acts of sabotage on Russian territories, claiming that they undermine ongoing efforts to find a diplomatic resolution to the conflict.
Russia Today
a day ago
- Business
- Russia Today
Kremlin confirms Putin warning after Ukrainian drone strikes
Russian President Vladimir Putin told his US counterpart, Donald Trump, that Moscow would respond to Ukraine's recent attacks on Russian airbases, the Kremlin has confirmed. Following a phone call with Putin on Wednesday, Trump announced on his Truth Social account that the two leaders had discussed Ukraine's recent drone strikes on docked Russian airplanes and 'various other attacks.' According to Trump, Putin had told him 'very strongly that he will have to respond' to the attacks. Speaking to journalists on Thursday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Putin had told Trump about an upcoming response. However, Peskov did not disclose any details about what the retaliation would entail, stating only that it would be carried out 'when and how our military deems appropriate.' Ukrainian drones hit multiple Russian airbases on Sunday in a coordinated assault. Targets ranged from Murmansk in the Arctic to Irkutsk in Siberia. Kiev claims the strikes damaged or destroyed approximately 40 Russian military aircraft, including Tu-95 and Tu-22 long-range bombers. Moscow, however, has stated that the aircraft were only damaged and would undergo repairs. Kiev also committed railway sabotage over the weekend, killing at least seven people and injuring over 110 in Russia's Bryansk and Kursk regions. Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) also reported on Thursday that an explosive device had damaged a railway track in Voronezh Region, and that the blast had occurred 'directly in front of an approaching train.' Severe consequences were only prevented by 'the professional actions of the train driver and crew, who noticed the track damage and carried out emergency braking,' the agency added. Putin has described the railway sabotage incidents as 'undoubtedly a terrorist act' committed by the 'illegitimate regime in Kiev,' claiming that it was 'gradually turning into a terrorist organization.' Shortly after Trump and Putin's phone call on Wednesday, the US Embassy in Kiev issued a security alert, warning of a 'continued risk of significant air attacks.' The US State Department has advised Americans currently in Ukraine to identify shelter locations in advance and keep reserves of water, food, and medication.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Extent of damage following Ukraine's attack on Russia
Dramatic new footage recorded by Ukrainian attack drones has laid bare the devastation they inflicted on Russian airbases during Operation Spiderweb. The covert mission - overseen in secret by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and hailed as one of Kyiv 's biggest wartime achievements - used hundreds of first-person view (FPV) drones to strike at the heart of Moscow's air force. The state-of-the-art weapons were smuggled into Russia in wooden containers on the back of lorries, with the deadly cargo disguised as modular homes and transported by unsuspecting Russian drivers. The vehicles were parked near strategic airbases before their roofs opened remotely, unleashing swarms of drones that targeted and destroyed bombers on the ground. The strikes took place on Sunday, with footage released today showing flames engulfing aircraft at four military airfields - Olenya in the Arctic region of Murmansk; Dyagilevo in western Russia; Ivanovo, northeast of Moscow ; and Podmoskovye in Moscow. Sources inside Ukraine's SBU security service claimed the operation crippled 34 percent of Russia's long-range strategic bombers, including the nuclear-capable Tu-95s and Tu-22s, often used to launch cruise missiles into Ukraine. Other aircraft which were hit included the nuclear-capable Tu-160 bomber, the An-12 transport plane and the Il-78 tanker, according to the SBU. The footage was released as new satellite images of Belaya airbase have shown severe damage to at least three Tu-95s, according to analysts. In total Ukraine says 41 aircraft were damaged or destroyed with damage valued at around £1.5 billion. A share of the successfully targeted aircraft were destroyed completely while others will take a long time to repair, the SBU said. Some of the drones carried the mission out using AI, according to reports, and flew via a route that was programmed into them before the attack was launched. The new footage was shown as Putin held a video conference with senior officials. It was the first time he had been seen publicly since the humiliating Sunday strikes. His security officials reported that two train crashes on the same day were caused by Ukrainian saboteurs blowing up rail bridges. At least some of the trucks belonged to former DJ Artem Timofeev, suspected by Russian law enforcement of being a Ukrainian agent. A huge manhunt has been launched for his and his wife Ekaterina 'Katya' Timofeeva, 34, who is suspected to have aided him. The pair have gone missing, say reports. Putin-backing Readovka media outlet reported: 'Artem is now wanted in connection with a terrorist attack in Irkutsk region. 'Four lorries were registered in his name, and one of them was the source of the drones that launched [in an attack on a Putin airbase].' His wife 'has not been online for two weeks, and she has scrubbed all her active social media accounts.' Relatives of the couple declined to comment, according to Readovka. A flat in Chelyabinsk has been linked to Timofeev where he was reportedly seen a week ago. Reports are divided as to whether he was born in Zhytomyr Ukraine, or occupied Donetsk region. Both he and his wife were reportedly supporters in Kyiv of the Ukrainian revolution in 2014, which toppled pro-Russian president Viktor Yanukovych. Later they moved to Russia, where she also worked as a stylist and tattoo artist. He set up a haulage sole proprietorship in December 2024, and ran several lorries. In his marriage certificate, Timofeev's patronymic - middle name - is listed as Igorevich, while in a Russian wanted notice he is referred to as Valeryevich. It is unclear if he had sought to alter his name. He is specifically wanted over the strike against a Russian airbase in Irkutsk region. In 2014–2015, he lived in Kyiv, and mingled with local musicians, frequently attending parties. Reports say he co-owned a local clothing brand, posting photos from the Euromaidan protests, and mocking ex-president Yanukovych. Ukraine's SBU secret service said its main agents in the audacious strikes on the air bases had already left Russia. Zelensky today urged Kyiv's military backers to ramp up support in a bid to pressure Russia towards peace. 'We must not allow Russia to blur reality or mislead the world. Moscow must be forced into diplomacy,' Zelensky said in a video address to defense ministers meeting in Brussels. And after Sunday's devastating blow to Moscow, German defense minister Boris Pistorius said today that military success by Russia in its war in Ukraine was neither imminent nor to be expected.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
New footage shows incredible devastation caused by Ukraine's drones as they obliterated Putin's nuclear bombers - as satellite images show trail of burned out jets worth billions of dollars
Dramatic new footage recorded by explosive-laden Ukrainian attack drones has laid bare the devastation they inflicted on Russian airbases during Operation Spiderweb. The covert mission - overseen in secret by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and hailed as one of Kyiv 's biggest wartime achievements - used hundreds of first-person view (FPV) drones to strike at the heart of Moscow's air force. The state-of-the-art weapons were smuggled into Russia in wooden containers on the back of lorries, with the deadly cargo disguised as modular homes and transported by unsuspecting Russian drivers. The vehicles were parked near strategic airbases before their roofs opened remotely, unleashing swarms of drones that targeted and destroyed bombers on the ground. The devastating strikes took place on Sunday, with footage released today showing flames engulfing aircraft at four military airfields - Olenya in the Arctic region of Murmansk; Dyagilevo in western Russia; Ivanovo, northeast of Moscow; and Podmoskovye in Moscow. Sources inside Ukraine's SBU security service claimed the operation crippled 34 per cent of Russia's long-range strategic bombers, including the nuclear-capable Tu-95s and Tu-22s, often used to launch cruise missiles into Ukraine. Other aircraft which were hit included the nuclear-capable Tu-160 bomber, the An-12 transport plane and the Il-78 tanker, according to the SBU. The footage was released as new satellite images of Belaya airbase have shown severe damage to at least three Tu-95s, according to analysts. In total Ukraine says 41 aircraft were damaged or destroyed with damage valued at around £1.5 billion. The new footage was shown as Putin held a video conference with senior officials. It was the first time he had been seen publicly since the humiliating Sunday strikes. His security officials reported that two train crashes on the same day were caused by Ukrainian saboteurs blowing up rail bridges. At least some of the trucks belonged to former DJ Artem Timofeev, suspected by Russian law enforcement off being a Ukrainian agent. A huge manhunt has been launched for his and his wife Ekaterina 'Katya' Timofeeva, 34, who is suspected to have aided him. The pair have gone missing, say reports. Putin-backing Readovka media outlet reported: 'Artem is now wanted in connection with a terrorist attack in Irkutsk region. 'Four lorries were registered in his name, and one of them was the source of the drones that launched [in an attack on a Putin airbase].' His wife 'has not been online for two weeks, and she has scrubbed all her active social media accounts.' Relatives of the couple declined to comment, according to Readovka. A flat in Chelyabinsk has been linked to Timofeev where he was reportedly seen a week ago. Reports are divided as to whether he was born in Zhytomyr Ukraine, or occupied Donetsk region. Both he and his wife were reportedly supporters in Kyiv of the Ukrainian revolution in 2014, which toppled pro-Russian president Viktor Yanukovych. Later they moved to Russia, where she also worked as a stylist and tattoo artist. He set up a haulage sole proprietorship in December 2024, and ran several lorries. In his marriage certificate, Timofeev's patronymic - middle name - is listed as Igorevich, while in a Russian wanted notice he is referred to as Valeryevich. It is unclear if he had sought to alter his name. He is specifically wanted over the strike against a Russian airbase in Irkutsk region. In 2014–2015, he lived in Kyiv, and mingled with local musicians, frequently attending parties. Reports say he co-owned a local clothing brand, posting photos from the Euromaidan protests, and mocking ex-president Yanukovych. Ukraine's SBU secret service said its main agents in the audacious strikes on the air bases had already left Russia. Zelensky today urged Kyiv's military backers Wednesday to ramp up support in a bid to pressure Russia towards peace. 'We must not allow Russia to blur reality or mislead the world. Moscow must be forced into diplomacy,' Zelensky said in a video address to defence ministers meeting in Brussels. German defence minister Boris Pistorius said on Wednesday that military success by Russia in its war in Ukraine was neither imminent nor to be expected.
Russia Today
2 days ago
- Politics
- Russia Today
US intel behind Ukrainian attack on Russian planes – ex-French spy
Ukraine would not have been able to remotely attack strategic Russian aircraft parked deep inside Russian territory without direct intelligence and satellite support from the US, a former officer in the French military has claimed. Ukrainian drones struck airbases across Russia on Monday in a coordinated attack known as 'Operation Spider's Web', targeting sites from Murmansk in the Arctic to Irkutsk in Siberia. Kiev has claimed that around 40 Russian military aircraft were damaged or destroyed, including Tu-95 and Tu-22 long-range bombers. Moscow has not confirmed the claims, reporting that most of Kiev's drones were shot down. The strikes were reportedly carried out using commercial trucks rigged with explosive-laden drones that had been smuggled inside Russia. Kiev's operation involved piloting FPV drones thousands of kilometers from the front lines, Guillaume Ancel, a writer and former French army lieutenant colonel, told Le Monde on Wednesday. 'This is possible and conceivable only with the support of a powerful satellite communications system,' he said. 'Since the Ukrainians don't have this mastery, if they were able to act remotely, it's certainly thanks to the United States.' Ancel suggested that Kiev 'would not have been able to carry out the operation without information from American intelligence.' While some in the West have hailed Ukraine's latest drone operation, Stephane Audrand, an international risk consultant and reserve officer, has stressed that it would not actually have much of an impact. Despite its spectacular nature, 'Operation Spider's Web' 'will not change the tactical balance of power on the ground or the course of the war, because these weapons are not used on the battlefield,' Audrand told Le Monde. Throughout the Ukraine conflict, Moscow has described the hostilities as a Western proxy war against Russia and has condemned arms supplies to Kiev as counterproductive to the peace process. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has also recently acknowledged the nature of the conflict, stating: 'Frankly, it's a proxy war between nuclear powers – the United States, helping Ukraine, and Russia.' Moscow has vehemently condemned Ukraine's continued drone strikes into Russian territory in recent weeks, claiming that they undermine ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the conflict. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has claimed that the latest attacks are an attempt to derail the peace process.
