Russia contends with drone damage to strategic air power as Ukraine's reach grows
A surprise
Ukrainian drone attack that targeted several Russian air bases hosting nuclear-capable strategic bombers was unprecedented in its scope and sophistication for the first time reached as far as Siberia in a heavy blow to the Russian military.
Ukraine said over 40 bombers, or about a third of Russia's strategic bomber fleet, were damaged or destroyed Sunday, although Moscow said only several planes were struck. The conflicting claims could not be independently verified and video of the assault posted on social media showed only a couple of bombers hit.
But the bold attack demonstrated Ukraine's capability to hit high-value targets anywhere in Russia, dealing a humiliating blow to the Kremlin and inflicting significant losses to Moscow's war machine.
While some Russian military bloggers compared it to another infamous Sunday surprise attack - that of Japan's strike on the US base at Pearl Harbour in 1941 - others rejected the analogy, arguing the actual damage was far less significant than Ukraine claimed.
A satellite image shows damage to aircraft at a Russian airfield in Irkutsk, following a Ukrainian drone attack. Photo: Capella Space via Reuters
Strategic aircraft, including the A-50, Tu-95 and Tu-22M, were destroyed in the attack, according to Ukrainian security services (SBU).
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