New Details Emerge in Drone Attack on Siberian Military Airfields
The defendants in the high-profile drone attack case on Siberia were ordered to remain in pre-trial detention for nearly a year.
During the court hearing, new details emerged about the drone attack on military airfields in five Russian regions simultaneously. The capital«s court ordered four truck drivers, from whose vehicles Ukrainian drones were launched, to remain in pre-trial detention until 1 March 2026.
Alexander Zaitsev before the start of the hearing.
The investigation accuses the truckers of illegally purchasing explosives and committing a terrorist act by prior conspiracy, which caused damage of two billion rubles (approximately $20 million at current rates). However, according to the lawyer of one of the drivers, those who operated the heavy trucks were simply used «without their knowledge.» Details are in the MSK1.RU report.
«When it happened — he gave everything away himself»
Into the small hall of the Basmanny District Court was led 62-year-old Alexander Zaitsev. Before the hearing, he was so anxious that a convoy officer had to calm him down to remove the handcuffs: «Don»t worry. Relax your hands.«
On 1 July 2025, in Murmansk Oblast, drones flew out from the trailer of Zaitsev«s truck and headed towards the airfield. This happened almost simultaneously in several other regions— Ivanovo, Ryazan, Amur, and Irkutsk.
According to the Ministry of Defence, due to the drones, several units of aviation equipment caught fire, with no casualties or injuries. This was the first attack on Siberia. A criminal case has been initiated under the articles «Terrorist Act» (Art. 205 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, Part 2, points «a», «c») and «Illegal Acquisition and Transportation of Ammunition» (Art. 222.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, Part 4).
According to the investigation«s version, Ukrainian special services organized a terrorist community to inflict damage on the Russian army and create panic among the population. For further actions, they recruited natives of Ukraine, the Timofeyevs and Borisovsky, who formed an organized group of truckers.
In turn, the drivers of heavy trucks transported frame houses from Chelyabinsk, in which the drones were hidden. When the trucks parked near the airfields, the drones were remotely activated. As a result, the damage from the attack was estimated at two billion rubles (approximately $20 million at current rates).
According to a representative of the investigation, all examinations have not yet been completed, and Zaitsev (like other defendants in the case) could interfere with the investigation and hide evidence if released from pre-trial detention.
The accused himself did not plead guilty and claimed— he is not involved in the crime and did not even know what he was transporting. His lawyer, Oksana Olgerdt, stated that the case materials left her «perplexed.»
Allegedly, some protocols were not presented in them, and all interrogations were conducted in Ryazan, although her client is accused of committing the crime in Murmansk.
«When everything happened, he gave everything away himself: »Please, look, I didn«t do anything, I was just transporting cargo,» insisted the lawyer. «On the very first day, he gave detailed testimony, didn»t conceal anything anywhere, handed over all his equipment. Zaitsev is a simple driver without higher education. He worked all his life as an ordinary laborer.«»
The defender called the accusations «unsubstantiated» and recommended that the trucker be involved as a witness. According to her, the driver was used «blindly» and he is ready to assist the investigation «in every possible way.»
When the court adjourned, Zaitsev«s daughter cautiously exchanged a few words with her father, wiping tears from her eyes:
«I sent you a letter, it should arrive soon,» said the girl.
«What»s in it?« asked the man from the defendant»s booth.
«A birthday greeting.»
The driver shed a spare tear and rubbed his eyes. The lawyer, anticipating the decision, turned to the relative of the defendant: «Write it down— we need powder, toothpaste, and toilet soap.»
In the end, the Basmanny Court granted the investigation«s request. Zaitsev, like the other truckers, will remain in pre-trial detention until 1 March 2026. In total, the defendants will spend 11 months in custody.
«We have no hopes. Unfortunately, there are already precedents in our country. But we will fight anyway,» briefly commented Oksana Olgerdt on the course of the case.
Everything related to the drone attack on airfields in Siberia is collected in a separate feature.
