Ahead of high-stakes peace talks in Istanbul, Ukraine says it carried out an audacious drone attack that destroyed over 40 Russian military planes at airfields, including Belaya air base in Russia’s Irkutsk region.

Planned for over a year and overseen by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the operation involved drones smuggled deep into Russia via truck containers, a Ukrainian security official told The Associated Press. Also noted by the news outlet, Russia conducted its own attack with 472 drones and several missiles, killing at least 12 Ukrainian service members and injuring over 60 others, according to Ukraine’s air force.

The assaults, which happened before Monday’s planned negotiations in Turkey, underscore the fragile prospects for peace.

Zelensky, posting on X, outlined Ukraine’s demands: “First — a full and unconditional ceasefire. Second — the release of prisoners. Third — the return of abducted children.” He added: “And in order to establish a reliable and lasting peace and ensure security, preparation of the meeting at the highest level. The key issues can only be resolved by the leaders. On Monday, our delegation will be led by Rustem Umerov.”

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Russia’s state-run TASS quoted envoy Rodion Miroshnik accusing Kyiv of “destabilizing the situation” ahead of the talks.

President Donald Trump, a vocal critic of the war’s escalation, has taken to Truth Social to lambast both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Zelensky.

“I’ve always had a very good relationship with Vladimir Putin of Russia, but something has happened to him. He has gone absolutely CRAZY! He is needlessly killing a lot of people, and I’m not just talking about soldiers. Missiles and drones are being shot into Cities in Ukraine, for no reason whatsoever. I’ve always said that he wants ALL of Ukraine, not just a piece of it, and maybe that’s proving to be right, but if he does, it will lead to the downfall of Russia!” Trump said in a recent post on Truth Social.

“Likewise, President Zelenskyy is doing his Country no favors by talking the way he does,” Trump added. “Everything out of his mouth causes problems, I don’t like it, and it better stop. This is a War that would never have started if I were President. This is Zelenskyy’s, Putin’s, and [former President Joe] Biden’s War, not ‘Trump’s,’ I am only helping to put out the big and ugly fires, that have been started through Gross Incompetence and Hatred.”

On Saturday night, President Donald Trump abruptly withdrew his nomination of Jared Isaacman, a close ally of Elon Musk, to be the next Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

“After a thorough review of prior associations, I am hereby withdrawing the nomination of Jared Isaacman to head NASA,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social. “I will soon announce a new Nominee who will be Mission aligned, and put America First in Space. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

The New York Times reported that Trump had told people he was going to withdraw the nomination after learning that Isaacman, an entrepreneur who has flown into space twice with Musk’s SpaceX company, made donations to Democrats. Isaacson had been poised to get a final confirmation vote in the Senate after passing through the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

In a post on X, Isaacman said he was “incredibly grateful” to Trump, the Senate, and those who supported him through the nomination process over the past six months.

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“The President, NASA and the American people deserve the very best–an Administrator ready to reorganize, rebuild and rally the best and brightest minds to deliver the world-changing headlines NASA was built to create,” Isaacman said. “I have not flown my last mission — whatever form that may ultimately take — but I remain incredibly optimistic that humanity’s greatest spacefaring days lie ahead.”

Pro-Trump activist journalist Laura Loomer reported on X earlier on Saturday that “Deep State operatives” were trying to “derail” Isaacman’s nomination, noting there was “reason to believe” that he was “facing retaliation because of his friendship” with Musk, who just ended a stint as a special government employee in Trump’s administration. Loomer also pointed out that Isaacman had given $2 million to Trump’s inauguration and was on track to get over 70 votes in the Senate.

Sen. Tim Sheehy (R-MT) reacted to Loomer’s post, saying, “Astronaut and successful businessman [Isaacman] was a strong choice by President Trump to lead NASA. I was proud to introduce Jared at his hearing and strongly oppose efforts to derail his nomination.”