Multiple military airbases deep inside Russia have come under drone attacks in a massive Ukrainian operation ahead of peace talks between the two sides due to start in Türkiye's Istanbul on Monday.
Ukraine on Sunday carried out drone attacks targeting airfields in multiple Russian regions, the Russian Defense Ministry said.
According to the ministry, the attacks were repelled in the regions of Ivanovo, Ryazan, and Amur, and in the Murmansk and Irkutsk regions, drones launched from areas near the airfields caused several aircraft to catch fire.
There were no casualties among military personnel or civilian staff, the ministry said.
The Ukrainian Security Service announced Sunday on social media that it had carried out an attack on a Russian bomber base in Siberia.
According to Ukrainian media reports, the Ukrainian Security Service attacked Russian military airfields in regions such as Murmansk and Irkutsk, destroying approximately 40 Russian military aircraft.
Informed sources revealed that Ukraine secretly transported drones into Russian territory through covert channels, hiding the drones in trucks and carrying out the strikes via remote control, the reports said.
Ukraine and Russia will resume negotiations on Monday in Istanbul as diplomatic efforts to end the conflict continue, Turkish authorities announced on Sunday.
According to the Turkish presidential office, the delegations are scheduled to meet at 13:00 local time (1000 GMT) at the Ciragan Palace on the European side of the city, along the shores of the Bosphorus Strait.
The two countries held their latest round of direct talks on May 16, their first face-to-face negotiations since March 2022, in Istanbul, but the meeting ended without a ceasefire agreement.
Ukraine launches massive drone attacks on Russian airbases ahead of peace talks
Ukraine launches massive drone attacks on Russian airbases ahead of peace talks
Ukraine launches massive drone attacks on Russian airbases ahead of peace talks
The Iranian government is focusing on public concerns and maintaining stable supplies of essential goods amid recent protests, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a televised interview on Sunday.
In the city of Karaj, northwest of the capital Tehran, daily life has largely continued as normal. A video filmed by a local resident on Sunday shows food stores open and grocery shelves fully stocked.
"This is the block near my home, and there are some food stores here. Daily life continues here. Last night we did not see many protests in Karaj. Right now the city is very safe. This is a grocery store close to my home. All the food is available; nothing is in shortage. Here are noodles and different types of beans. Here are dairy products, cheese, and yogurt. I also checked other grocery stores and didn't see any shortages. Everything is available," said local resident Ali Reza.
Iranian officials have described recent disturbances as acts orchestrated by the "enemy," including some carried out by well-trained and armed "terrorists." The incidents have caused casualties among security personnel and civilians, as well as property damage.
The Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani has directed authorities to severely punish the "terrorists."
Meanwhile, Iran's police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan said on Sunday that the police had raised alert levels and arrested several leaders of the troublemakers during the operations on Saturday.
President Pezeshkian noted in the interview that the normal demands of the Iranian people are reasonable and justified, but they must realize that triggering riots and carrying out terrorist acts are the enemy's attempts to undermine the country. He urged the public to remain vigilant.
Also on Sunday, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned that Tehran would regard U.S. and Israeli bases and facilities in the Middle East as "legitimate targets" if Washington takes military action against Iran. His remarks followed media reports saying U.S. President Donald Trump is "seriously considering authorizing a strike" against Iran.
Iranian state media reported that at least 109 members of Iran's security forces have been killed in clashes since the protests began 14 days ago. Meanwhile, human rights groups based outside the country said the number of protesters killed has exceeded 200, though the figure could not be independently verified.
The protests initially erupted over a sharp depreciation of the rial and sweeping subsidy reforms. Iranian authorities have blamed the unrest on foreign-linked agents and sanctions imposed by the United States.
Iranian president says government focusing on ensuring supplies amid protests
