MOSCOW – Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov confirmed Wednesday that the aircraft damaged during Ukraine’s June 1 drone attacks on multiple airfields will be repaired and dismissed Kiev’s claims about the strategic impact of the strikes.
“As the defense ministry said, these aircraft were not destroyed but damaged. They will be repaired,” Ryabkov told TASS, rejecting speculation that the incident altered the strategic balance. He emphasized that the aircraft involved are not necessarily covered under any treaty obligations, noting that the New START treaty has been suspended by Russia.
Ryabkov criticized the Ukrainian regime’s portrayal of the attack’s aftermath, urging reliance on official information provided by Russia’s defense ministry. He also revealed that prior to a recent call between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump, Moscow questioned Washington’s silence about the drone incident. According to Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov, Trump claimed the U.S. had no knowledge of Kiev’s plans.
The Russian defense ministry reported that Ukraine targeted airfields in the Murmansk, Irkutsk, Ivanovo, Ryazan, and Amur regions using FPV drones. While most attacks were repelled, some aircraft were damaged and briefly caught fire. No casualties were reported, and several suspects connected to the operation were apprehended.
