A claim that President Vladimir Putin 's helicopter faced a combat incident during his visit to the Kursk region was concocted by Russia's authorities, it has been reported. Russia's Defense Ministry said that during Putin's trip to the border region where Kyiv previously staged an incursion, his aircraft came under fire from Ukrainian drones.

Ukraine security forces claim to have attacked at least 40 bombers deep inside Russia which would be the most aggressive such attack on Russian territory since Moscow-led troops invaded Ukraine in 2022.

Ukrainian drones destroyed 40 Russian aircraft in a strategic attack on airfields. The operation was a year in the making, led by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.