Russo-Ukrainian war, day 1194: Ukraine destroys 34% of Moscow’s bombers with AI-guided drones

Exclusive

The world's largest bank says Ukraine will fail—apparently forgetting Ukraine doesn't take orders. JPMorgan's $3.2 trillion credibility meets Ukrainian defiance.

Trojan truck op: Kyiv destroys "34%" of Russia's strategic bomber fleet within hours with truck-launched FPV drones (updated). Zelenskyy said the operation was planned inside Russia, right next to an FSB office, and involved drone operators across three time zones.

Ukraine's own drones crash Putin's $7-billion "red lines" aircraft — while Russia fights them back with sticks. Ukraine's rise to drone powerhouse has unleashed an industry producing 4.5 million flying killers a year — forcing Russian troops into WWI-style desperation to dodge death from above every six minutes.

Tiny Latvia sends thousands of drones in heavyweight military aid to Ukraine. Latvia got burned by the USSR. Now it's sending 12,000 drones to help Ukraine return the favor in 2025.

Military

Killing the killer: Ukraine coordinates most successful Russian bomber strike from hub next to FSB office. The audacious operation reveals Ukraine's intelligence capabilities rival major powers, fundamentally challenging Western assumptions about Kyiv's strategic limitations in potential peace negotiations. Russia's oblasts near Ukraine suffer two deadly bridge failures. Explosions blamed, then denied. Two separate incidents struck Russian border oblasts overnight, disrupting both passenger and freight rail lines. Ukraine destroys $7 billion Russian aircraft fleet without warning White House. Ukraine damages 40 Russian bombers with truck-smuggled AI drones, hitting 34% of strategic aircraft. At least 150 AI-guided Ukrainian drones strike 41 Russian aircraft in historic truck-smuggled strike. Small quadcopters armed with AI dive bombers surprise Russian forces. Ukraine rewrites Budapest Memorandum with 40 burning Russian jets targeted by drones launched from cargo trucks. A coordinated drone strike inside Russia marks a new chapter in Ukraine's fight for sovereignty and security. Russia launches largest nighttime drone strike of the war, targets Dnipro with missiles. Moscow targeted Ukraine with a total of 479 aerial weapons, including 472 drones and multiple missiles. Frontline report: Russia's elite Spetsnaz walk over their own dead as French ex-commandos hold Kharkiv line. Russian soldiers collide in Ukraine's bloodied forests as their summer gambit unfolds. Breaking: Russian strategic bombers ablaze en masse under SBU drone attack (video). Sources report over 40 aircraft targeted, including A-50, Tu-95, Tu-22M3 bombers at two major bases, 2,000 and 4,000 km from Ukraine. Russia tries to break through to northern Ukraine's Sumy city amid ceasefire talks. This comes as Russia looks to be kicking off its summer offensive, with fresh assaults popping up in Sumy and Donetsk oblasts. Explosion derails Russian military convoy in occupied Zaporizhzhia Oblast, HUR says. The 31 May explosion disrupted railway traffic near Yakymivka en route to occupied Crimea.

Intelligence and technology

Ukraine destroys strategic bombers Moscow cannot replace. The Soviet-era planes hit by Ukrainian AI drones are beyond repair and reproduction. Twelve Ukrainian companies showcase combat-proven drones, ground robotic systems at European defense exhibition. While showcasing revolutionary autonomous weapons, Ukraine faces the challenge of scaling battle-proven innovations into mass production for European partners. Ukraine destroys 4,000 Russian tanks worth 20 years of Moscow's production capacity. Ukraine has permanently weakened Russia's ability to launch future conventional invasions in Eastern Europe. Ukraine F-16 pilots get NATO-level battlefield vision through Link-16 military Wi-Fi protocol. Ukrainian jets and NATO air defenses now share real-time data, creating unprecedented coordination in the skies. New laser weapon from China seen in Russian hands on the front. The Silent Hunter system appears to have been active in the war against Ukrainian drones since 2024.

Political and legal developments

Ukrainian Ground Forces commander quits after training base attack kills 12 and injures 60 troops. Mykhailo Drapatyi takes ultimate responsibility for the deadly assault.

New developments

Thunder over Finland echoes heart of Kyiv's war plan: Allies exercise assault that could have occupy entire Ukraine in 2022. Finnish and Polish forces reenact Russia's failed blitz on Kyiv Oblast. Read our earlier daily review here.