Moment Putin's doomsday nuclear planes explode in major Ukrainian sneak attack
Two major Russian airfields for Vladimir Putin's nuclear strike warplanes are said to have gone up in flames following a reported attack by Ukraine.
Both airfields, one in the Arctic and the other in Siberia, are thousands of miles from Ukraine but were "under drone attack" - with dozens of Moscow's nuclear capable warplanes destroyed. The attack - with drones possibly released from trucks near the bases - appears one of the most sensational of the entire war and the blackest day for Putin.
Olenya airbase in Arctic Murmansk region is home to Russia's Tu-95 strategic bombers - potentially used to launch nuclear strikes on the West. They have been used to attack Ukraine with conventional weapons.
Belaya nuclear airbase in eastern Siberia's Irkutsk region - some 2,900 miles from Ukraine - was also ablaze. Ukraine's SBU secret service was reportedly conducting a large-scale special operation to destroy Russian bombers.
The Ukrainian media claimed more than 40 Putin aircraft had been hit, including Tu-95, Tu-22M3, and A-50 strategic bombers. The damage to the enemy was alleged to exceed £1.5 billion. A driver of a truck filled with drones that attacked Olenegorsk in Murmansk "may not have known about the cargo," said a report.
According to Baza media, the driver has been detained. "A truck stopped at a gas station at the entrance to the city….drones started flying out of the back of the truck and then attacked various objects," said the report.
A similar account was heard from Siberia, but there are no official comments yet. Ukraine's Pravda Gerashchenko Telegram channel said: "A special operation 'Web' is being conducted to demilitarise Russia. The [SBU] report the destruction of Russian bomber aircraft behind enemy lines. In particular, the destruction of more than 40 aircraft, including A-50, Tu-95 and Tu-22M3."
Reports emanating from Ukraine said two other major military air bases had been hit - in Ryazan and Ivanovo regions. Planes at Dyagilevo air base in Ryazan were reported ablaze, as seen on new footage.
Unconfirmed reports also indicated further strikes at Russia's nuclear submarine base Severomorsk in the Arctic, headquarters of the Northern Fleet. Footage appeared to show black smoke at the scene on the Kola Peninsula following explosions at the secret base. It was unclear what had been hit.
Russian war-channels immediately began calling for Putin to respond by using nuclear weapons. "Disabling strategic aircraft gives Russia the right to use nuclear weapons," declared Vladislav Pozdnyakov, a war expert. "Let me remind you."
Russia's nuclear doctrine allows for a nuclear response in the event of an attack on "critical government or military infrastructure". In particular, "an enemy attack that disrupts the operation of nuclear forces, threatening Russia's ability to respond" could lead to Putin ordering an atomic strike.
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