Ukraine has launched a 'large-scale' drone attack on Russian military bombers stationed in Siberia, reportedly striking more than 40 aircraft positioned thousands of miles from Ukrainian territory.

A Ukrainian security official stated that this action was taken amid an upsurge in military activities, with Russia also escalating its drone strikes against Ukraine.

The attack occurred on four separate airfields and follows Russia's claims of sabotage incidents, including two train derailments that resulted in seven fatalities.

Video footage disseminated from various locations within Russia displayed significant damage to military aircraft, though assessments of the full ramifications of the strikes were still underway.

Among the aircraft reportedly damaged in the operation were the Tu-95 and Tu-22 strategic bombers, known to be utilized by Russia for launching long-range missiles targeting urban areas in Ukraine.

Ukraine’s SBU domestic intelligence agency estimated the value of the damaged military hardware at approximately $7 billion.

If confirmed, this operation would represent the most substantial drone strike executed by Ukraine since the conflict began in February 2022, coinciding with an elevation in cross-border military actions as negotiations are set to resume in Istanbul.

A Ukrainian official indicated that the military action, codenamed 'Spiderweb', had been meticulously planned for over 18 months.

Drones were reportedly smuggled into Russia, concealed within wooden sheds that were transported to the perimeter of military airfields.

These sheds, equipped with retractable roofing panels, allowed the drones to launch directly from the vehicle.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed gratitude towards all involved in the operation, emphasizing the extensive preparation that had taken place.

He mentioned the strategic location of the operation's command center, which was situated near a Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) office.

In total, 117 drones were reportedly utilized in the strike, with operations coordinated across multiple Russian time zones.

Ukrainian officials confirmed that measures were taken to ensure the safety of personnel involved in the operation.

Images shared by Ukrainian security sources depicted an assortment of drones and the wooden sheds used to conceal them, while videos circulating on Russian social media appeared to document the ground responses to the attack.

The Russian Ministry of Defense acknowledged that several military aircraft sustained damage during the strikes, specifically in the Murmansk and Irkutsk regions.

The Ministry reported no casualties among personnel but also stated that several individuals related to the event had been detained.

Simultaneously, investigations were underway regarding incidents in the Kursk and Bryansk regions of Russia.

Local authorities reported that explosions had caused infrastructure damage, leading to train derailments.

Investigators classified the explosions as 'acts of terrorism', though no group has claimed responsibility for these incidents.

Additionally, during this period, the Ukrainian air force reported that Russia launched 472 drones overnight, marking the highest nightly total recorded thus far in the conflict, in conjunction with missile strikes that have affected Ukrainian military units.

Earlier statements from President Zelenskyy indicated plans to send a delegation to Istanbul for peace talks, led by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov.

Zelenskyy articulated key priorities for Ukraine in these discussions, including a push for a complete ceasefire, the return of prisoners, and efforts to recover abducted children.

Negotiators are expected to propose a framework for a lasting peace settlement, utilizing the current frontlines as a basis for discussions about territorial integrity.

In parallel, discussions center around long-term implications of territorial claims, with Russia previously demanding that Ukraine abandon its NATO membership aspirations and withdraw military presence from regions of Ukraine currently under Russian control.