Ukrainian drones hit Russian airbases as Kremlin reacts to Trump remarks
Ukraine launched a sweeping drone offensive deep inside Russian territory early Friday, igniting fires at a key bomber base and escalating a long-range campaign that has rattled Moscow. As the flames burned at Engels-2 airbase, the Kremlin also bristled at comments from Donald Trump, who likened the war to a fight between children — a remark dismissed by Russian officials as dangerously naive.
Key Information
- Ukrainian drones struck the Engels-2 airbase in Russia’s Saratov region, destroying three fuel tanks and causing large fires near a key strategic bomber site.
- Additional strikes hit Russian military targets in Ryazan, Kursk, Bryansk, and at a missile production facility in Michurinsk.
- Russia claimed to intercept 174 drones and responded with one of its most extensive aerial bombardments of the war, launching more than 450 drones and 45 missiles at Ukrainian cities, killing at least five people and injuring over 70.
- Donald Trump compared the war to a playground fight, prompting a stern rebuke from the Kremlin, which called the conflict "an existential issue."
- Ukraine’s military vowed continued strikes on military infrastructure until Russia halts its armed aggression.
Ukrainian drone strikes have hit multiple military and industrial sites across Russia, in one of Kyiv’s most widespread cross-border operations since the start of the full-scale war.
The Engels-2 airbase in Russia’s Saratov region, a strategic site for long-range bombers including the Tu-95 and Tu-160, was among the primary targets. Ukraine’s military confirmed three fuel tanks were destroyed in the attack. Videos posted online showed large fires and explosions.
Saratov’s governor, Roman Busargin, acknowledged the attack on what he described as an "industrial enterprise," and said a nearby residential building was damaged by falling debris. No injuries were reported.
Additional Ukrainian drone strikes were reported at Dyagilevo airbase in Ryazan Oblast, a missile production plant in Michurinsk, and military sites in Kursk and Bryansk regions.
Russia’s defence ministry claimed its forces intercepted 174 drones overnight across 12 regions, including Russian-occupied Crimea. In response, Russian forces launched a major aerial bombardment against Ukraine, deploying more than 450 drones and 45 missiles. Ukrainian officials reported five deaths and over 70 injuries.
Kremlin responds after Trump’s "children fighting" comment
The strikes came as political tensions rose following comments by former U.S. President Donald Trump. During a White House meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Trump compared the Ukraine war to "two young children fighting in a park."
"They’re fighting like crazy," he said. "Sometimes you’re better off letting them fight for a while."
The Kremlin rejected the analogy as dangerously dismissive. Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told Russian media:
"For us, this is an existential question — about our national interests, our security, and the future of our country."
While Trump did not elaborate further, his remarks drew criticism from analysts who warned that such statements risk undermining international unity on Ukraine.
Striking deep behind Russian lines
The Engels-2 airbase has been a repeated target for Ukraine, due to its role in launching long-range air strikes. Located roughly 600 kilometres from the front lines, it has become a key part of Kyiv’s expanded strike strategy.
The latest attack follows Ukraine’s "Operation Spiderweb" on June 1, a large-scale drone offensive that damaged dozens of Russian bombers and inflicted billions of dollars in damage, according to Kyiv.
Ukraine’s General Staff said Friday’s attacks were part of an ongoing effort to degrade Russian strike capabilities:
"Strikes on military infrastructure will continue until the Russian Federation’s armed aggression is brought to an end."
Wider implications
As Ukrainian strikes push deeper into Russian territory and Moscow intensifies its retaliatory attacks, the war continues to evolve. Alongside military escalation, rhetoric from key political figures is adding to tensions among allies.
What began as a conventional ground war has become a conflict shaped by long-range tactics, global diplomacy, and public narratives — with potential consequences that extend well beyond the battlefield.
