logo
When Russia stole Kazakhstan's 40 bombers—and got Ukraine's in a gas debt deal

When Russia stole Kazakhstan's 40 bombers—and got Ukraine's in a gas debt deal

Time of India02-06-2025

In a major blow to Russia's airpower, Ukraine recently claimed it damaged or destroyed more than 40 Russian warplanes in coordinated drone and missile strikes deep inside Russian territory, including bases in the Arctic, Siberia, and the Far East—more than 7,000 kilometers from Ukraine's borders. Among the aircraft hit were strategic assets like the Tu-95, Tu-22M bombers, and the A-50 early warning plane, used to guide missile attacks and coordinate battlefield intelligence.
Ukraine's security services estimate the damage could cost Russia up to $7 billion. But what's especially striking is that many of these bombers, especially the Tu-95MS models, were never built by post-Soviet Russia—but allegedly
stolen
from Kazakhstan in the early 1990s.
A Cold War Relic Reappears
As reported by united24media earlier, when the
Soviet Union
collapsed in 1991, its vast military arsenal was scattered across newly independent states. Kazakhstan, to its surprise, inherited the world's largest fleet of Tu-95MS strategic bombers—40 in total, including 27 long-range cruise missile-capable MS-16s and 13 MS-6s.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Una inversión en Banco Internacional CFD podría darte un salario extra
Mercados de Capital
Undo
At that time, Russia's own Tu-95MS fleet was smaller—just 22 to 27 aircraft—and the production line had shut down. The final Tu-95MS bomber had rolled off the assembly line in early 1992, leaving Russia unable to manufacture replacements.
The Great Swap (or Theft)
Seizing the opportunity, Russia quietly exploited Kazakhstan's inexperience and lingering Soviet-era military cooperation to reclaim the aircraft—without official permission.
Live Events
In early 1992, Russian and Kazakh bomber crews continued joint exercises. During one such period, Tu-95MS bombers flown from Kazakhstan to Russian bases, such as Ukrainka in the Far East, were never returned. Instead, Russia allegedly sent back older Tu-95K models—or, in some cases, sent nothing at all.
Whether through deliberate swap-outs or simply refusing to return Kazakhstan's bombers, Moscow ended up with dozens of strategic aircraft that weren't theirs. While Russian sources claim only 16–18 Tu-95MS aircraft were taken in early 1992, no clear records exist for the rest—raising questions about how many were quietly absorbed into Russia's fleet.
Ukraine's Unusual Deal
In another post-Soviet twist, Ukraine also ended up trading part of its inherited bomber fleet to Russia. In 1999, Ukraine struck a deal to settle its gas debt by transferring bombers and cruise missiles to Moscow.
At the time, Ukraine had inherited a sizeable arsenal of strategic weapons but lacked the funds to maintain or fuel them. Russia, on the other hand, saw value in reclaiming these long-range platforms for its own strategic forces.
Strategic Theft with Strategic Impact
Russia's current long-range bomber fleet—used regularly to strike Ukrainian infrastructure—owes its existence not to new production or arms treaties, but to post-Soviet opportunism, deception, and quiet deals. Kazakhstan never received accountability or compensation for the Tu-95MS bombers it lost, and the fate of the older models returned in their place remains uncertain.
What began as quiet reshuffling of military hardware in the early '90s now echoes in today's battlefield realities—where those very same aircraft are still in active use, or, as of now, burning wreckage on Russian tarmacs.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

42-year-old man commits suicide in Sajeti
42-year-old man commits suicide in Sajeti

Time of India

time26 minutes ago

  • Time of India

42-year-old man commits suicide in Sajeti

Kanpur: A 42-year-old man took his own life by hanging in the Sajeti area on Monday, following alleged harassment from the police and his in-laws. The family claimed that after his wife filed a complaint, the station in-charge physically assaulted him and extracted Rs 15,000 from the family through the forced sale of their harvest before his release. The man ended his life after returning home. The local MLA visited the site and demanded strict action against the accused police officials. Subsequently, DCP (South) Deependra Nath Chowdhary suspended the sub-inspector and constable, while ordering serious charges against them along with the deceased's wife and father-in-law. Jeetu Nishad from Kotra village in the Sajeti police station area was employed in the private sector in Surat, Gujarat. He lived with his wife Suman and their three daughters. Having stayed in the village for approximately three months, Jeetu recently had a disagreement with his wife, who subsequently moved to her parents' house in Birbal Akbarpur. According to Jeetu's father, Ramesh, a few days ago, when Jeetu visited his in-laws to bring back his family, he faced physical and verbal abuse. Upon police notification, Jeetu endured mistreatment at the Kotra village police post on Sunday. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free Chess. No Ads. Just Fun Play Classic Chess Install Now Undo The police then demanded Rs 15,000 for his release, which was arranged by selling wheat. Dejected over this, Jeetu returned home the same day and ended his life in his room. After Jeetu's father informed MLA Saroj Kureel about the incident and sought action against the police and in-laws, the DCP South visited Kotra village late at night. He suspended SI Gaurav Sahooliya and head constable Ravi. DCP said, "A case was registered at Sajeti police station against the accused officers, Jeetu's father-in-law Ram Kishore, and his wife Suman under serious charges. Further investigations are on. "

Andhra Pradesh attracted Rs 9.2 lakh crore investments in 11 months, says industries minister Bharat
Andhra Pradesh attracted Rs 9.2 lakh crore investments in 11 months, says industries minister Bharat

Time of India

time26 minutes ago

  • Time of India

Andhra Pradesh attracted Rs 9.2 lakh crore investments in 11 months, says industries minister Bharat

1 2 3 Visakhapatnam: Industries minister TG Bharat on Tuesday said the NDA govt in the state had drawn investments worth 9.2 lakh crore within 11 months — an achievement the previous YSRCP regime failed to match in five years. The investments are expected to generate over 8.5 lakh employment opportunities. Addressing the Federation of Andhra Pradesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FAPCCI) Excellence Awards 2025 as chief guest, Bharat emphasised the govt's industry-first approach. "Our focus is on restoring investor confidence and addressing the long-standing concerns of the industrial sector," he noted. Highlighting reforms, Bharat said Andhra Pradesh now has among the most competitive industrial policies in the country. He urged entrepreneurs to leverage state-provided incentives and cited the "Speed of Doing Business" initiative for expediting approvals. He also called on businesses to participate in the P4 (People-Public-Private Partnership) model for inclusive growth. Visakhapatnam MP M Sribharat urged industry leaders to identify challenges and offer transformative ideas. "Your innovation could be the game changer Andhra Pradesh needs," he said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 나이들어 노안+백내장 절대 방치 하지 마세요! 부산백내장노안 전문안과 더 알아보기 Undo FAPCCI president Kankatala Mallikharjuna Rao commended the state's MSME policy, highlighting its generous incentives for tourism projects. These include a five-year 100% SGST exemption from the start of commercial production, full reimbursement of land conversion fees, and industrial tariffs for power bills. He assured that all reimbursements would be processed within six months. Awards were presented in 11 categories. Nekkanti Sea Foods Ltd, Visakhapatnam, was honoured for Excellence in Agri & Aqua Based Industries. Other winners are Ananda Enterprises (Export Performance – MSEs), Efftronics Systems (Product Innovation), and Ms. Annandi Suneetha (Outstanding Women Entrepreneur). Recognitions were also given to Steelon Call (Start-up), Divi's Laboratories (CSR), ITC – Agri Division (Employee Welfare), CCL Products (All Round Performance), Dalmia Cement (Green Energy), Aravind Industries (Rural Entrepreneurship), and Sarda Metals (Export – Large & Medium Enterprises).

City shift: Housing ministry lays roadmap for Smart Cities SPVs beyond mission deadline; new advisory proposes five-pronged role in urban development
City shift: Housing ministry lays roadmap for Smart Cities SPVs beyond mission deadline; new advisory proposes five-pronged role in urban development

Time of India

time26 minutes ago

  • Time of India

City shift: Housing ministry lays roadmap for Smart Cities SPVs beyond mission deadline; new advisory proposes five-pronged role in urban development

The ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs on Tuesday issued a detailed advisory to repurpose the Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) created under the Smart Cities Mission , aiming to leverage their institutional capacity for long-term urban transformation even after the scheme's closure on March 31. The advisory encourages states and Union Territories to identify pressing urban development priorities and assign new strategic roles to the SPVs, which were originally formed to plan and execute city-level infrastructure projects under the 2015 Smart Cities Mission. According to the ministry, the SPVs will now be guided to operate in five broad domains: technology support, project implementation, consulting, research and assessment, and investment facilitation. These areas reflect an effort to integrate SPVs more closely with ongoing state and city development agendas. The government noted that over the past decade, Smart Cities SPVs have demonstrated their ability to deliver complex, cross-sectoral projects with efficiency and innovation. The ministry also highlighted the investments made in establishing Integrated Command and Control Centres (ICCCs), which have played a key role in urban governance and data-driven decision-making. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Dermatologist: Just Add 1 Drop Of This Household Item To Any Dark Spot And Wait 3 Minutes Dark Spot Corrector With the Smart Cities Mission officially concluded, the Centre's move to repurpose SPVs is aimed at sustaining the momentum of urban innovation and reinforcing the technical and managerial capacity of Urban Local Bodies. The advisory is intended as a strategic framework for states to ensure that these purpose-built institutions continue to address evolving urban challenges in areas such as infrastructure, technology, and service delivery. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store