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NDTV
18 hours ago
- Politics
- NDTV
Russian Commanders Blamed For Ukraine Drone Attack On Bomber Fleet
London: Russian military analysts are hunting for scapegoats after Ukraine stunned Moscow with weekend drone attacks that destroyed a number of strategic bomber planes, weakening a key component of Russia's nuclear arsenal. Aerospace forces commander-in-chief Viktor Afzalov and former defence minister Sergei Shoigu - now secretary of Russia's Security Council - are among those being publicly singled out for blame. The drone strikes have prompted accusations of negligence, complacency and corruption. How was it possible, commentators are asking, for nuclear-capable aircraft to be left exposed, unprotected by hangars, and for Ukrainian intelligence to smuggle the drones within close reach of air bases and unleash them with devastating effect? Two influential military blogs, Voyenkor Kotenok and Two Majors, said Shoigu had promised as far back as April 2021 to build more than 300 reinforced concrete shelters for aircraft, but this had not happened. Military analyst Vladislav Shurygin condemned the "blatant irresponsibility and negligence" of the aerospace command headed by Afzalov, accusing the top brass of failing to anticipate threats and learn from past mistakes. The Russian defence ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Another blogger, Roman Alekhin, said the attacks had demonstrated Ukraine's ability to penetrate deep inside Russia with saboteurs. Moscow had underestimated its enemy, he said, comparing the blow to Japan's 1941 attack on the U.S. navy at Pearl Harbor. The heated online debate contrasts with near-silence from the authorities and scant coverage in state media. The Kremlin has said an investigation is underway. President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday condemned what he called terrorist attacks by Ukraine that killed seven people in southern Russia on Sunday, but made no reference to the strikes on the air bases that took place on the same day. BOMBER FLEET Russia operates two types of nuclear-capable heavy bomber planes - the Tu-160 and Tu-95 MS, which NATO calls the Blackjack and Bear-H, respectively. The Federation of American Scientists, in its annual review of Russian nuclear forces, said last month that it estimates Russia has only about 67 strategic bombers in its active inventory, although there is uncertainty about the numbers. It said Russia had historically housed all its strategic bombers at Engels, in the Volga region, and Ukrainka in the Far East. But in 2022, the first year of the war, it redeployed some bombers from Engels to Belaya in Siberia and Olenya in the northern Murmansk region, apparently assuming they would be less vulnerable there to Ukrainian attack. That assumption was disproved on Sunday, when Belaya and Olenya bore the brunt of the Ukrainian attacks. According to Western and Russian analysts, the aircraft that were hit were Tu-95 MSs and Tu-22 M3s - a type of intermediate-range bomber - though it remains unclear exactly how many were taken out. Satellite images of Belaya, obtained by Reuters and reviewed by military experts, showed at least several strategic bombers there were destroyed or badly damaged. Russian analysts estimated a dozen or more aircraft in total were damaged or destroyed at Belaya and Olenya. To replace them, military blogger Colonel Cassad wrote, it was likely that Russia would have to speed up production of the Tu-160 because it was only making four of those every year. Reuters could not verify that figure. Aviation analyst Alexei Zakharov said even if as many as 15 Tu-95 MSs had been taken out, it would only reduce the number of nuclear cruise missiles that Russia was capable of firing by fewer than 100. He noted that strategic bombers are only part of a much larger nuclear force including ground- and submarine-launched missiles. Even so, he said, Russia had learned a lesson that was "offensive and insulting. The main thing is that the right conclusions are drawn from this lesson".
Miami Herald
2 days ago
- General
- Miami Herald
Before-and-After Satellite Images Reveal Russian ‘Pearl Harbor' Devastation
Newly available satellite imagery reveals the devastating aftermath of Ukraine's long-range drone strike on multiple Russian airbases in what pro-Moscow bloggers are calling "Russia's Pearl Harbor." The operation, codenamed "Operation Spiderweb," saw the deployment of 117 drones that targeted at least four strategic sites deep inside Russian territory. The drones were smuggled across the border, placed in wooden containers with removable roofs fixed on trucks. The Belaya air base in Irkutsk Oblast, more than 2,500 miles from Ukraine's border, bore the brunt of the assault. Ukrainian intelligence reported the destruction of at least 13 aircraft across all targeted sites. Satellite images provided to Newsweek from Maxar Technologies shows rows of strategic bombers reduced to scorched wreckage. A wide-angle before-and-after image of Belaya air base shows intact bomber aircraft in revetments replaced by charred remains and blackened craters. Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) stated that the drone barrage disabled 34 percent of Russia's cruise missile bomber fleet and inflicted an estimated $7 billion in damage. Among the aircraft confirmed destroyed at Belaya were at least three Tu-95MS bombers and one Tu-22M3 aircraft. Others were damaged but not obliterated, according to Ukrainian officials. A close-up image shows a cluster of Tu-95MS bombers with visible fire damage and blast debris surrounding their parking spots. Satellite images that captured the damage at multiple airfields show previously pristine runways now marked by burn scars and aircraft fragments. A detailed damage shot captures melted fuselage sections, crumpled wings, and residual fire damage across the concrete apron. Russia's Ministry of Defense admitted that aircraft caught fire at multiple sites but framed the strikes as "terrorist attacks" by the Kyiv regime. In a statement to Tass, the ministry said some drones were intercepted and added that several perpetrators had been detained. It denied any casualties among servicemen or civilians. Other airbases targeted included Olenya in Murmansk Oblast and Diaghilev in Ryazan Oblast. The Kyiv Independent cited Ukrainian sources who said the drones were smuggled into Russia in trucks outfitted with wooden cabins and deployed from beneath removable roofs. Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War noted that the operation "will likely force Moscow to reconfigure its air defenses," possibly expanding coverage and introducing mobile air defense groups to counter future drone threats. Open-source analysis has suggested one A-50 spy plane was damaged or destroyed at Ivanovo air base, as well as four Tu-95 aircraft and three Tu-22M3 bombers at the Belaya air base, the U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) think tank said on Monday. The drone strikes came on the eve of fresh rounds of face-to-face talks between Russian and Ukrainian officials in Turkey. Initial discussions last month produced the largest prisoner swap of the war but little shuffling toward a peace deal that U.S. President Donald Trump vowed to broker. Related Articles 'Russia's Pearl Harbor' Fuels Fears Over Chinese Cargo Ships at US PortsSteve Bannon Says Lindsey Graham Should Be Arrested Over Ukraine SupportWhat 'Russia's Pearl Harbor' Says About Trump's Golden DomeOperation Spiderweb: How Ukraine's Daring Top Secret Drone Assault Unfolded 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- General
- Scottish Sun
Putin warns Trump he ‘will have to respond' to Ukraine's daring drone attack in hour-long phone call with president
VLAD VOWS REVENGE Putin warns Trump he 'will have to respond' to Ukraine's daring drone attack in hour-long phone call with president Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) VLADIMIR Putin has warned Donald Trump he 'will have to respond' to Ukraine's daring drone strike on Russian airfields, the US president revealed. In a dramatic post on Truth Social, Trump said the Russian tyrant issued the warning during a 75-minute phone call where the pair discussed rising tensions in Ukraine, as well as Iran's nuclear ambitions. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 President Donald Trump spoke with Kremlin despot Vladimir Putin on the phone Credit: AP 4 Ukraine destroyed 41 Russian planes across four key airfields 4 Putin told the US president he 'will have to respond' to Ukraine's drone strike Credit: AP 'It was a good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate Peace,' Trump wrote. 'President Putin did say, and very strongly, that he will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields.' The call, confirmed by the Kremlin, follows Operation Spiderweb — a daring Ukrainian drone blitz that wrecked 41 Russian planes across four strategic airfields, in a coordinated assault likened to WWII's most audacious missions. Newly released footage from Ukraine shows drone after drone spiralling down onto Putin's nuclear bomber fleet, turning the aircraft into flaming wrecks. In one dramatic clip, a drone hones in on a bomber while another lies burning nearby. In another, a row of bombers blazes along the runway. Ukraine's intelligence service, the SBU, deployed 117 kamikaze drones, each with its own pilot, targeting the Olenya, Belaya, Dyagilevo, and Ivanovo-Severny air bases — deep inside Russian territory. The swarm of drones was launched from shipping containers hidden in plain sight, with Russian lorry drivers unknowingly parking them next to military bases. As civilians watched in disbelief, the containers cracked open and unleashed the aerial assault. Ukraine said the cost to the Kremlin could reach $7 billion (£5.4bn), wiping out a major chunk of its long-range aviation fleet, including Tu-95MS and Tu-22M bombers and A-50 spy planes. More to follow... For the latest news on this story, keep checking back at The U.S. Sun, your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, sports news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures, and must-see videos. Like us on Facebook at TheSunUS and follow us on X at @TheUSSun
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- General
- The Irish Sun
Putin warns Trump he ‘will have to respond' to Ukraine's daring drone attack in hour-long phone call with president
VLADIMIR Putin has warned Donald Trump he 'will have to respond' to Ukraine's daring drone strike on Russian airfields, the US president revealed. In a dramatic post on Truth Social, Trump said the Russian tyrant issued the warning during a 75-minute phone call where the pair discussed rising tensions in Ukraine, as well as Iran's nuclear ambitions. Advertisement 4 President Donald Trump spoke with Kremlin despot Vladimir Putin on the phone Credit: AP 4 Ukraine destroyed 41 Russian planes across four key airfields 4 Putin told the US president he 'will have to respond' to Ukraine's drone strike Credit: AP 'It was a good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate Peace,' Trump wrote. 'President Putin did say, and very strongly, that he will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields.' The call, confirmed by the Kremlin, follows Operation Spiderweb — a daring Newly released footage from Ukraine shows drone after drone spiralling down onto Putin's nuclear bomber fleet, turning the aircraft into flaming wrecks. Advertisement In one dramatic clip, a drone hones in on a bomber while another lies burning nearby. In another, a row of bombers blazes along the runway. Ukraine's intelligence service, the SBU, deployed 117 kamikaze drones, each with its own pilot, targeting the Olenya, Belaya, Dyagilevo, and Ivanovo-Severny air bases — deep inside Russian territory. The swarm of drones was launched from shipping containers hidden in plain sight, with Russian lorry drivers unknowingly parking them next to military bases. As civilians watched in disbelief, the containers cracked open and unleashed the aerial assault. Advertisement Most read in The US Sun Ukraine said the cost to the Kremlin could reach $7 billion (£5.4bn), wiping out a major chunk of its long-range aviation fleet, including Tu-95MS and Tu-22M bombers and A-50 spy planes. More to follow... For the latest news on this story, keep checking back at The U.S. Sun, your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, sports news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures, and must-see videos . Like us on Facebook at 4 Planes were left burning on the runway Advertisement
Newsweek
2 days ago
- General
- Newsweek
Before-and-After Satellite Images Reveal Russian 'Pearl Harbor' Devastation
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Newly available satellite imagery reveals the devastating aftermath of Ukraine's long-range drone strike on multiple Russian airbases in what pro-Moscow bloggers are calling "Russia's Pearl Harbor." The operation, codenamed "Operation Spiderweb," saw the deployment of 117 drones that targeted at least four strategic sites deep inside Russian territory. The drones were smuggled across the border, placed in wooden containers with removable roofs fixed on trucks. The Belaya air base in Irkutsk Oblast, more than 2,500 miles from Ukraine's border, bore the brunt of the assault. Ukrainian intelligence reported the destruction of at least 13 aircraft across all targeted sites. Satellite images provided to Newsweek from Maxar Technologies shows rows of strategic bombers reduced to scorched wreckage. A wide-angle before-and-after image of Belaya air base shows intact bomber aircraft in revetments replaced by charred remains and blackened craters. Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) stated that the drone barrage disabled 34 percent of Russia's cruise missile bomber fleet and inflicted an estimated $7 billion in damage. Among the aircraft confirmed destroyed at Belaya were at least three Tu-95MS bombers and one Tu-22M3 aircraft. Others were damaged but not obliterated, according to Ukrainian officials. A close-up image shows a cluster of Tu-95MS bombers with visible fire damage and blast debris surrounding their parking spots. Satellite images that captured the damage at multiple airfields show previously pristine runways now marked by burn scars and aircraft fragments. A detailed damage shot captures melted fuselage sections, crumpled wings, and residual fire damage across the concrete apron. Blast Zone and Aircraft Wreckage in the Belaya Air Base. Blast Zone and Aircraft Wreckage in the Belaya Air Base. MAXAR TECHNOLOGIES Russia's Ministry of Defense admitted that aircraft caught fire at multiple sites but framed the strikes as "terrorist attacks" by the Kyiv regime. In a statement to Tass, the ministry said some drones were intercepted and added that several perpetrators had been detained. It denied any casualties among servicemen or civilians. Other airbases targeted included Olenya in Murmansk Oblast and Diaghilev in Ryazan Oblast. The Kyiv Independent cited Ukrainian sources who said the drones were smuggled into Russia in trucks outfitted with wooden cabins and deployed from beneath removable roofs. Wreckage of two Russian bombers at the Olenya base. Wreckage of two Russian bombers at the Olenya base. MAXAR TECHNOLOGIES Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War noted that the operation "will likely force Moscow to reconfigure its air defenses," possibly expanding coverage and introducing mobile air defense groups to counter future drone threats. Open-source analysis has suggested one A-50 spy plane was damaged or destroyed at Ivanovo air base, as well as four Tu-95 aircraft and three Tu-22M3 bombers at the Belaya air base, the U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) think tank said on Monday. Satellite imagery showing two Russian A-50 airborne early warning and control aircraft with tires and debris on the wings at the Ivanovo air base, Russia, on May 3, 2025. Satellite imagery showing two Russian A-50 airborne early warning and control aircraft with tires and debris on the wings at the Ivanovo air base, Russia, on May 3, 2025. Satellite image ©2025 Maxar Technologies The drone strikes came on the eve of fresh rounds of face-to-face talks between Russian and Ukrainian officials in Turkey. Initial discussions last month produced the largest prisoner swap of the war but little shuffling toward a peace deal that U.S. President Donald Trump vowed to broker.
