Ukrainian drones targeted Russia’s Tatarstan overnight on 10 June, with explosions heard and drones seen in the cities of Yelabuga and Nizhnekamsk — over 1,200 km from Ukraine’s border. Russian authorities responded by grounding flights at multiple airports and expanding penalties for publishing drone strike footage.

Drone strikes target Tatarstan and beyond

According to reports from Russian Telegram channels including Astra and Mash, explosions were heard in Nizhnekamsk, as the Ukrainian Liutyi drones were spotted there, and in Tatarstan’s Yelabuga. Eyewitnesses cited by Mash claimed the drones were flying north, toward areas with suspected drone factories.

Ukrainian Telegram channel Supernova+ also shared last night’s footage featuring the sound of a massive explosion, head in Russia’s Tver, and of a drone fly-by in Saratov.

Local residents captured the moment when air defense missiles failed to intercept a fixed-wing drone flying over Tatarstan’s Nizhnekamsk. 

The Shahed-manufacturing facility in Yelabuga was last targeted by Ukrainian drones in late May and, earlier, in April.

Drones hit Russia’s Shahed drone factory 1,200 km from Ukraine again

Russian MoD claims widespread drone interceptions

The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that between 21:50 and 23:55 Moscow time on 9 June, Russian air defense destroyed 76 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones: 46 over Bryansk Oblast, 16 over Belgorod Oblast, 2 each over Oryol and Kaluga oblasts, and 1 over Voronezh Oblast, and 9 over occupied Crimea.

In the next morning update, the Russian MoD claimed a total of 102 UAVs were intercepted overnight, including drones over Moscow, Tatarstan, and other regions.

The Leningrad Oblast governor, Aleksandr Drozdenko, stated a drone was allegedly shot down over Tosnensky District. He also reported restrictions on mobile and internet access in several areas. He also said internet and mobile communication restrictions were imposed in places.

Flight disruptions across multiple Russian cities

The Russian Federal Air Transport Agency, Rosaviatsiya, temporarily restricted take-offs and landings at airports in Nizhnekamsk, Pulkovo in St. Petersburg, Izhevsk, Kirov, and all Moscow airports.

Artem Korenyako of Rosaviatsiya noted the suspensions were imposed at the height of the drone threat, and that safety protocols such as the standard plan Kovyor, grounding all civilian aviation, were enacted in multiple cities.

Russia enacts regional bans on sharing drone strike data

Russian officials have imposed fines and restrictions on publishing any materials about drone strikes. Kommersant reports that regional governments have introduced penalties ranging from administrative fines to criminal prosecution.

In some instances, the fines — ranging from 3,000 to 200,000 rubles ($40–$2,550) — were issued to residents who shared videos or comments on social media. Media outlets, Telegram channel admins, and social media users have also been targeted. Repeat violations can lead to up to three years in prison.

Ukrainian drones strike a plant producing Shahed “brains” in Russia’s city of Cheboksary. Loud explosions and a fire erupted in the town, located approximately 940 kilometers from Ukraine’s Kharkiv, overnight on 9 June.

Ukrainian drones targeted the VNIIR-Progress plant, which produced components for Shahed drones, UMPK kits, and other details for Russian precision-guided weapons.

Ukraine’s General Staff has officially confirmed that the Russian defense industry enterprise, JSC VNIIR-Progress, was struck as part of an operation to degrade the enemy’s capacity to manufacture air-attack systems.

“The facility was confirmed hit by at least two unmanned aerial vehicles, followed by a large-scale fire,” the General Staff has reported.

After the strike, powerful explosions were heard in the city, and the plant halted production, UNIAN writes.

“Two unmanned aerial vehicles crashed on the premises of JSC VNIIR, prompting a decision to suspend operations,” says Oleg Nikolaev, head of Russia’s Chuvashia Republic.

Besides Cheboksary, drone strikes also targeted facilities in Nizhny Novgorod, Tambov, and Voronezh regions. Aviation restrictions were imposed in Kazan, Saratov, and other Russian cities.

A large-scale fire continues to burn for the third straight day at the Kristall oil depot in Engels, Russia’s Saratov Oblast, following a Ukrainian drone strike on the night of 6 June. The depot is reported to supply fuel to the Engels-2 airbase, which houses Russia’s Tu-95 and Tu-160 strategic bombers used in cruise missile attacks on Ukraine.

Satellite imagery from PlanetLabs shows today’s smoke plume stretching nearly 15 kilometers, visible from multiple areas of the city.

According to Ukraine’s General Staff, drone strikes targeted two Russian military airfields—Engels and Dyagilevo. At least three fuel storage tanks were reportedly damaged in Engels.

Despite the visible impact, Saratov regional authorities claim that air quality in residential areas remains within safe limits. However, Russian Telegram channels report thick black smoke rising over Engels.

Ukraine renews strikes on Russian fuel infrastructure

This marks the first Ukrainian drone strike on a Russian fuel depot in months, signaling a renewed campaign against Russian military logistics. The 6 June attack on Engels came alongside strikes on military and industrial targets across at least six Russian regions.

The broader strategy targets fuel depots, airfields, and defense infrastructure deep inside Russian territory, aiming to disrupt operations supporting the war in Ukraine.

Engels oil depot previously targeted in January

The Kristall depot, located over 600 km from Ukraine, has been targeted before. In January 2025, Ukrainian drones struck the facility twice:

• On 8 January, three fuel tanks with a capacity of 120,000 cubic meters each were destroyed, and six more were damaged. The estimated fuel loss reached 800,000 tons.
• A second drone strike followed on 14 January, while fires from the initial attack were still burning.

Governor Roman Busargin confirmed a fire broke out at “one of the industrial enterprises in Engels” after the recent strike but did not name the site. NASA’s FIRMS satellite system detected thermal anomalies consistent with the reported fire, further confirming the incident.

A new report by Defense Express identifies Ukrainian Osa (“Wasp”) FPV drones produced by First Contact as the likely unmanned aircraft used in the Security Service of Ukraine’s (SBU) highly successful 1 June Spiderweb operation targeting Russian strategic bombers on their home bases.

Visual confirmation of drone model through unique design

Based on images from the preparation phase of the operation within Russian territory, Defense Express highlights drone units stored in hive-like structures under the roofs of mock pre-made houses, which were delivered by trucks to areas near Russian airbases.

Trojan truck op: Kyiv destroys “34%” of Russia’s strategic bomber fleet within hours with truck-launched FPV drones (updated)

According to Defense Express, these images reveal distinctive elements matching the Osa drone, including its thick enclosed frame housing all electronics, a fixed power port, and a front-placed antenna near the camera, rather than the usual rear placement.

Unlike most other FPVs that use an open skeletal frame and top-mounted cables, the Osa employs a sealed construction, which Defense Express argues made it more suited for long-distance transport inside trucks and resilient enough for use in various weather conditions.

Combat capability and final preparation on Russian soil

Further confirmation came through a high-resolution photo published by Censor.net. A bottom-up view of the drone reveals unique ventilation holes and confirms the presence of integrated skids, which served as shaped-charge warheads, according to a reader clarification. Defense Express notes that final drone assembly or arming still occurred on Russian territory prior to deployment.

Specifications support suitability for the mission

According to the manufacturer, the Osa FPV drone is capable of carrying up to 3.3 kg of payload, remaining airborne for 15 minutes, and reaching speeds of up to 42 m/s (approximately 150 km/h). These capabilities allow it to maintain stability and control even in stormy conditions — key requirements for a strike operation executed deep within Russian territory.

Potential use of AI for targeting

Defense Express also cites indications that the drones involved in the Spiderweb operation may have utilized artificial intelligence to locate, identify, and target vulnerable areas on enemy aircraft. First Contact, the manufacturer of the Osa drone, was already developing and testing AI-enabled drones as of January 2024, suggesting the firm likely had deployable systems by the time of the attack.

Independent sources reinforce drone identification

In addition to the visual and technical analysis, Defense Express consulted internal sources familiar with the operation. These sources confirmed the high likelihood that the Osa drones produced by First Contact were the exact type used in the deep-strike mission targeting strategic bomber bases.

Ukraine presented weapons that have already changed the rules of war at the European Defence Innovation Days 2025 (EDID25) exhibition in late May 2025, according to ArmyInform. 

Among the highlights were autonomous FPV drones, a new class of naval drones, and robotic ground systems transforming logistics on the front lines. 

The EDID25 forum was hosted by the European Defence Agency (EDA) in Kraków, Poland. The event brought together developers, military personnel, scientists, and industry leaders from across Europe.

Twelve Ukrainian companies showcased their innovations. According to Anatolii Khrapchynskyi, deputy director of an electronic warfare company and military expert, Ukraine did not come with concepts, but with real, battle-tested technology.

“These are not mock-ups. These are technologies that save lives and are changing the rules of modern warfare,” Khrapchynskyi emphasized.

Among the systems demonstrated:

• FPV drones with autonomous targeting, capable of striking without an operator, due to computer vision.
• Naval drones that have learned to intercept airborne targets — effectively a new class of weapons
• Mavic- and Matrice-type drones, fully assembled with Ukrainian-made electronics
• Ground robotic systems that revolutionize frontline logistics, remotely mine terrain, and establish new firing positions 

“Our technologies are not just innovation. They are combat experience transformed into solutions. We know how to turn challenges into breakthroughs,” said Khrapchynskyi.

A key takeaway for European partners is that Ukraine is becoming not just a production hub but a source of experience, flexibility, and strategic thinking.

That is why Khrapchynskyi stressed the need to establish an Engineering Command Center in Ukraine, a permanent hub for military innovation staffed by Ukrainian and European experts.

This center should:

• Translate battlefield experience into technical specifications;
• Anticipate the needs of future wars;
• Coordinate cross-sector development of systems and platforms.

“Europe is searching for solutions. And Ukraine has the answers — practical, combat-proven, and scalable,” the expert concluded.

Earlier, the Security Service of Ukraine reported that a total of 34% of Russia’s strategic missile carriers based at their main airfields were hit in the operation SpiderWeb, which targeted at least four airfields. 

Ukraine used smart FPV-drones launched from cargo trucks to target the aircraft. 

Ukraine strikes Russian strategic bomber airbases in Murmansk and Irkutsk Oblasts with kamikaze drones, targeting aircraft about 2,000 and over 4,000 km from the frontline. Footage from the sites shows massive fires and burning aircraft. The operation has been conducted by Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU), according to unofficial reports.

Drone attacks in Olenya and Belaya airbases

Ukrainian FPV kamikaze drones attacked strategic bomber airbases deep within Russian territory, according to reports by Ukrainian and Russian Telegram channels. The strikes targeted the Olenya airbase in Murmansk Oblast—approximately 2,000 km north of Ukraine—and the Belaya airbase in Irkutsk Oblast, located 4,300 km to the east. 

Residents near Belaya reportedly captured footage of FPV drones hitting the airfield, followed by multiple explosions. The Olenya airbase was also struck, and open-source intelligence (OSINT) analysts from Cyberboroshno identified the location in videos showing destroyed strategic bombers.

One of the videos, published by multiple Telegram channels, shows drone footage of fires at Belaya airbase, with voice-over commentary by SBU head Vasyl Maliuk, confirming the strike.

FPV drones were delivered to both bases by motor vehicles

In Irkutsk, Supernova+ reported that a long-haul truck stopped near the Belaya airbase and began launching FPV drones from its trailer, which then targeted parked aircraft and facilities on-site.

Similar accounts emerged from Murmansk Oblast. In one video, the narrator states:

“A long-haul truck arrived in Olenegorsk, the driver is running around frantically, FPV drones are flying out of his truck. The traffic police have just arrested him. He says, ‘I was told to come here, that someone would meet me. The drones are flying out one after another.’“

Visual evidence, allegedly from this attack indicated it was not a truck but a van towing a trailer in Murmansk Oblast. Later, it turned out that the images of the van were old.

Damage to aircraft and confirmed targets

According to analysis of the available video materials, at least four Tu-95 strategic bombers—used by Russia to conduct missile strikes on Ukrainian territory—were reportedly destroyed at Olenya airbase, Militarnyi says.

Ukrainian Telegram channel Supernova+ published multiple videos from both Murmansk and Irkutsk Oblasts, claiming there were at least 10 explosions at Olenya.

Another channel, Exilenova+, posted footage of Tu-95MS bombers engulfed in flames at Olenegorsk, Murmansk Oblast.

Russian Migalovo airbase hit by kamikaze drones, reports confirm (video)

First drone strike in Irkutsk Oblast

This marks the first time Irkutsk Oblast has been attacked by drones since the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine began.

Russian site Meduza says the drones were reportedly spotted in the Usolsky district, with settlements such as Sredniy and Novomaltinsk coming under attack. The Belaya military airfield in this area houses Tu-22M3 bombers.

SBU operation “Web” targets Russian bombers

Ukrainian publication Babel, citing sources within the SBU, reported that the strikes were part of a planned special operation dubbed “Pautyna” (“Web”), carried out on 1 June.

Babel’s report added that the FPV drones were deployed to target aircraft involved in bombing Ukrainian cities and towns. The damages from this operation are estimated to exceed $2 billion, according to the source. 

Read the follow-up:

“Trojan truck attack”: Ukraine used AI-trained FPV drones launched from trucks to destroy “34%” of Russia’s strategic bomber fleet in a day

A drone strike carried out by Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) of the Defense Ministry destroyed a Russian military train carrying fuel in occupied Zaporizhzhia Oblast reportedly on 24 May. The operation targeted the Tokmak–Molochansk–Fedorivka railway section, located some 50 kilometers south of the frontline.

According to a 25 May report by HUR, the drone unit of the agency’s active operations division struck the moving train while it was transporting fuel for Russian military equipment. The agency confirmed that “at least three fuel tankers were destroyed,” severely disrupting the occupiers’ logistics.

HUR described the operation as part of a broader armed campaign aimed at “obstructing and paralyzing Russian military logistics” across occupied Ukrainian territories. Footage of the strike was released on HUR’s official website, showing explosions engulfing the tankers.

Rail logistics under increasing pressure

As noted by the defense-focused outlet Militarnyi, the route itself sustained damage during the attack, further complicating Russian efforts to transfer and support troops in Zaporizhzhia Oblast and Crimea.

The Cyberboroshno OSINT community reported that the train was hit in the settlement of Novobohdanivka in Melitopol district, located about 50 kilometers from the active combat line.

Militarnyi highlighted ongoing efforts by Russian forces to restore and expand rail infrastructure on occupied territory, particularly in Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia Oblasts. These include constructing a new railway connection between Rostov-on-Don and occupied Crimea through Zaporizhzhia’s Berdiansk, intended to reduce reliance on the Crimean bridge and improve transport safety for military cargo. Additionally, Russia plans to resume freight operations with Melitopol and to upgrade the Mariupol–Rostov-on-Don line to strengthen connections with occupied Crimea.