Russia Confirms Aircraft Damaged in Ukraine’s June 1 Drone Attack Will Be Repaired

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov has stated that the aircraft damaged during Ukraine’s drone attacks on June 1 will be repaired, adding that the strikes did not alter the strategic balance.

“As the defense ministry said, these aircraft were not destroyed but damaged. They will be repaired,” Ryabkov told Russian state news agency TASS, referring to drone strikes on airfields across several Russian regions. He added, “So, make your own conclusions.”

Ryabkov also dismissed statements from Ukrainian officials regarding the aftermath of the attacks. “There is nothing of the kind,” he said, calling on the public to trust information released by the Russian defense ministry.

He further commented that the aircraft targeted by Ukraine were “not necessarily covered” by existing arms control agreements, including the New START treaty, which Russia has suspended.

According to the Russian defense ministry, Ukraine used FPV drones in what it called "terrorist attacks" on airfields in the Murmansk, Irkutsk, Ivanovo, Ryazan, and Amur regions. It said the attacks on Ivanovo, Ryazan, and Amur were repelled, and that fires caused by drone impacts were quickly extinguished. No casualties were reported among civilians or military personnel.

The ministry also said several individuals involved in the June 1 attacks had been detained.

Ryabkov referred to earlier communication between Russian President Vladimir Putin and former U.S. President Donald Trump regarding a similar past incident. He claimed that Russia had questioned the U.S. over its silence about such attacks, to which Trump responded that Washington had no prior knowledge of Kyiv’s plans.