FSB Claims It Foiled Ukrainian Attacks on Military Air Bases Deep Inside Russia

July 13, 2026 Ukrainian servicemen with a drone. REUTERS / Valentyn Ogirenko Russia's FSB security Service said Monday that it foiled a series of attempted large-scale Ukrainian drone attacks against two military air bases deep inside Russia. The state-run news agency TASS cited the FSB as saying in a statement that Ukrainian secret services tried to strike the Shagol and Ukrainka air bases, located in Chelyabinsk and Amur regions, respectively. The FSB said the alleged perpetrators had been arrested. It claimed that Ukraine had used balloons and drones to deliver containers full of drones into the western Bryansk region, which were then to be transported to the two targets. The foiled operation appeared to resemble a 2025 attack on Russian military air bases, including the Ukrainka base, which is estimated to have destroyed around 10 Russian aircraft, according to the United States. Russia's FSB claimed it thwarted a similar operation on Friday. The target of that alleged attack was said to be a military air base in the southern Rostov region, which borders Ukraine. Reuters contributed reporting. Read more about: FSB , Ukraine , Chelyabinsk , Amur region Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more FSB Accuses Ukraine of Plotting Bomb Attack With ISIS Against Senior Officer Four people were arrested in connection with the alleged bomb plot, including three Russian citizens and a Central Asian national. 2 Min read FSB Says It Foiled Ukrainian Plot to Kill Senior Russian Defense Ministry Official The FSB claimed it arrested a dual Ukrainian-Russian citizen, born in 1989 and known by the alias “Voron,” on a highway as he traveled toward the Moscow... 1 Min read Russia’s FSB Says It Foiled Ukrainian Railway Attack in Crimea Law enforcement officials detained a man they claimed was secretly working with Ukrainian security services. 1 Min read FSB Helicopter Crashes in Urals, Killing Crew The cause of the deadly crash is believed to be a "technical malfunction," state-run news agencies reported. 1 Min read