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illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on The Associated Press or enjoy below:
🗞️ Driving the news: Ukraine’s Security Service claims it destroyed over 40 Russian military aircraft in a deep-strike drone attack across multiple Russian airbases, just hours before peace talks are set to begin in Istanbul
• The operation, dubbed “Web”, reportedly took 18 months to plan and involved 117 drones launched from hidden compartments in mobile shelters
• Russia confirmed aircraft damage across five regions, including the Irkutsk and Murmansk areas
🔭 The context: This unprecedented long-range strike comes amid intensified aerial warfare between Ukraine and Russia
• Ukraine has recently ramped up drone operations in response to sustained Russian missile assaults
• Meanwhile, direct peace talks — the first in months — are scheduled to begin in Istanbul, with Ukraine demanding prior clarification of Russia’s peace terms
🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The destruction of 34% of Russia’s strategic bomber fleet (as claimed) may curb long-range missile attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure, indirectly reducing environmental harm from urban destruction and fires
• However, the escalation also underscores the growing militarization of drone technologies, raising concerns about arms proliferation and destabilization
⏭️ What's next: Peace negotiations in Istanbul, led by Ukraine’s Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, are expected to begin Monday, with Russia’s position memo anticipated during the talks
• International observers, including U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, are closely monitoring the implications of Ukraine’s strike, which U.S. officials admitted showed a level of operational sophistication not previously seen
• The potential for retaliatory escalation remains high, especially as Russia launched a record 472 drones over Ukraine the same day
💬 One quote: “We are doing everything to protect our independence, our state and our people,” — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
📈 One stat: The Ukrainian air force reported intercepting a record 472 Russian drones in a single day — the largest number launched since the war began in February 2022
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