Germany has given Ukraine the green light to strike targets inside Russia using long-range weapons supplied by Berlin, in a decision that signals a notable hardening of Western resolve as the war grinds on.

A Ukrainian drone attack last weekend likely damaged around 10% of Russia's strategic bomber fleet and hit some of the aircraft as they were being prepared for strikes on Ukraine, a senior German military official said.

After a large-scale attack by Ukrainian drones on airfields deep inside Russian territory, Germany estimated that at least 10% of the enemy's strategic aviation was damaged, reports Reuters. German Major General Christian Freuding said the Ukrainian drone strike on Russian airfields on June 1 likely damaged about 10% of Russia's strategic bomber