Ukraine's bold strike on Russian airports catches the White House off guard
The Trump administration was reportedly unaware of Ukraine's plans, according to CBS, which cited sources in the White House. On Sunday, Kyiv executed a massive drone attack on Russian airports.
Journalist Jennifer Jacobs from CBS News reported on platform X that the Trump administration had no prior knowledge of Ukraine's attack on Russian airports. "Administration sources told CBSNews that the White House wasn't aware that today's large-scale drone attack by Ukraine on the Russian military aircraft was coming," Jacobs wrote.
Ukraine surprised the White House: Behind the scenes of the attack on Russian airports
Ukrainian forces destroyed over 40 planes on Russian territory during the Sunday attack, an anonymous Ukrainian security official told AP News. This attack coincided with Russia launching a massive missile and drone assault on Ukraine, just a day before planned peace talks in Istanbul.
Ukrainian drone operation
The operation had been planned for over a year and a half and was personally overseen by Ukraine's President, Volodymyr Zelensky, according to the source. The drones were transported in containers by trucks deep into Russian territory.
The attack targeted several airports, including the Belaya airbase in the Irkutsk region, which is over 2,485 miles from Ukraine. This was the first appearance of a Ukrainian drone in this region, confirmed by local governor Igor Kobzev, who noted that it did not pose a threat to the civilian population.
Russian attacks on Ukraine
Meanwhile, Russia conducted its largest drone attack since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022, sending 472 drones into Ukraine. Russian forces also launched seven missiles, as stated by Yurii Ihnat, head of communications for Ukraine's air forces. At least 12 soldiers were killed, and over 60 were injured due to a Russian missile attack on a Ukrainian military training unit.
Situation on the front
The Russian Ministry of Defense announced it had taken control of the village of Oleksiivka in the northern Sumy region of Ukraine. Ukrainian authorities in Sumy have ordered a mandatory evacuation in 11 additional localities in light of advances by Russian forces in that area. Russia's main offensive efforts are concentrated on Pokrovsk, Toretsk, and Lyman in the Donetsk region and the border area with Sumy.
