Latest news with #Tu-95s
Daily Record
5 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Record
Russia accuses UK of involvement in Ukraine drone strike that risks 'World War 3"
Sunday's surprise attack targeted Russian airbases holding bombers. Russia's ambassador to the UK has claimed Ukraine's recent drone attacks targeting nuclear bomber airbases risks escalating the ongoing conflict to "World War III", who also implied that Britain was involved. Andrei Kelin warned that the strikes "are bringing the conflict to a different level of escalation", adding that Kyiv should "not try to engulf World War III". The surprise attack on Sunday, June 1, was a heavy blow to the Russian military. It targeted bases holding nuclear-capable bombers, and reached as far away as Siberia. Satellite images show seven ruined bombers at a base in eastern Siberia, a target Ukraine later admitted to striking, the Mirror reports. Mr Kelin accused the UK of being involved when he said Ukraine must have been assisted. He told Sky News: "[This] kind of attack involves, of course, provision of very high technology, so-called geospaced data, which only can be done by those who have it in possession. And this is London and Washington. "I don't believe that America [is involved], that has been denied by President Trump, definitely, but it has not been denied by London. We perfectly know how much London is involved, how deeply British forces are involved in working together with Ukraine." Ukraine said over 40 bombers, around a third of Russia's fleet, sustained damage or were destroyed. The aircraft affected were Tu-95s, Tu-22Ms and A-50s, targeted by drones that were deployed from containers carried on trucks parked near four bases. The operation is said to have been in the planning for 18 months, and demonstrated Ukraine's ability to strike high-value targets anywhere in Russia, resulting in humiliation and significant losses. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Although some Russian military bloggers compared it to the 1941 Pearl Harbour bombing by Japan, due to it being a surprise attack on a Sunday, others argued the extent of the damage was much less than claimed. Donald Trump has said Vladimir Putin told him "very strongly" in a call on Wednesday that he will respond to the incident as the deadlock over the conflict continues. Writing on social media, Trump said the phone call 'was a good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate Peace.'
Fox News
5 days ago
- Politics
- Fox News
Ukraine crushes Putin's bombers, but can China and Russia do the same to the US?
With Operation Spider's Web, Ukraine inflicted the worst attack on Russian air power since World War II. The final damage is yet to be determined, but one tally is nine Tu-95s and three Tu-22M3 bombers gone, along with an A-50 "Mainstay" radar plane and an unlucky An-22 transport plane. Whatever the final count, the strategic impact is clear. Never before have drones taken out a big chunk of a nuclear-capable bomber force. Unlike tanks, Russian President Vladimir Putin cannot replace his bombers because none are still in production. They'll be chopping up the wreckage for parts once the smoldering carcasses cool down. Here's what Putin's lost, and why the U.S. should be worried about drone threats from China. Before Sunday, Russia's air force had about 55 Tu-95 Bear bombers and as many as 57 Tu-22 bombers. Russia's bombers are not aeronautically impressive, but they deliver lethal Russian cruise missiles, hypersonic missiles and, of course, they can be armed with nuclear weapons, too. The Tu-95 "Bear" is that ugly, four-engine plane with contra-rotating propellers and the long refueling probe above the cockpit. Since 2007, Putin has used the Bear to harass U.S. and NATO airspace. Don't forget a pair of Tu-95 Bears barged into Alaskan airspace along with two Chinese planes last year, which is typical behavior for them. The Tu-22M3 "Backfire" is a supersonic jet that was supposed to be sleek, but turned out gawky like most Soviet designs. The Tu-22's Cold War mission was to launch high-speed cruise missiles at U.S. Navy ships. Instead, Tu-22 squadrons ended up bombing Syria a decade ago. The Tu-95 and Tu-22 squadrons no doubt thought they were hotshots. Until Sunday. Ukraine's reason was clear enough. Russian tactics are vile. Armed Tu-95s and Tu-22s take off from their bases, reach altitude, fly to a designated point, and launch cruise missiles against Ukraine, all while staying inside the sanctuary of Russian airspace. Ukraine's air defenses do a great job knocking down inbound missiles and drones. But they can't reach far enough to take out the bombers while in flight. During Putin's blitzes of Ukraine's cities, the A-50 "Mainstay" dome-mounted radar plane monitors Ukraine air defenses and provides command and control for Russian bombers launching missiles. Ukraine has already shot down two A-50s and the drones got another on Sunday. Good riddance. Ukraine's drone strike was an important blow. But this is an attack that must be taken seriously by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and planners in the Pentagon, as they revive America's industrial base. What stunned me was the timing: near-simultaneous attacks at multiple Russian bases. By using 117 drones smuggled into Russia, the close-in attacks achieved surprise and left no time for the Russians to activate electronic warfare or other defenses. Apparently, unsuspecting Russian truckers said they were hired to deliver modular houses. Then the lids of their cargo loads opened and drones flew out. Even more consequential was the reach of the strikes. Belaya airbase is in Siberia, 3,000 miles from Kyiv, near Lake Baikal. They lost 4 Tu-95s, 3 Tu-22s and the A-50. Olenya airbase is up on the Kola peninsula near Murmansk. The local Barents Observer photographed columns of oily black smoke billowing into the air, probably from the 5 Tu-95s, hitting that base. Putin should have known better. Ukraine's drones hit the Kremlin in May 2023. Other attacks have damaged Su-24 and Su-30 fighters parked in occupied Crimea. Ukraine has hit Russian bombers with smaller drone attacks, like one in August 2023 that claimed two Tu-95s. Yet beyond question, the coordinated drone strike of June 1, 2025, opened a new chapter in drone warfare. "Yesterday was a really good example of just how quickly technology is changing the battlefield," Army Chief of Staff General Randy George said Monday, June 2. Operation Spider's Web should send a chill down the spine of every U.S. base commander. Right now, the U.S. military also needs to be asking: what if a Russian or Chinese "fishing vessel" off the coast of Guam or Virginia Beach pops open drones to attack U.S. bombers or fighters lined up on runways? B-52s and B-1s are based mainly in the heartland, and the B-2s live in climate-controlled hangars in Missouri. However, the bombers sit out on host nation runways when deployed around the globe on Bomber Task Force missions. It's not just trucks and containers launching drones. In May, China showed off its Jiu Tan drone carrier, an unmanned plane with an 82-foot wingspan that carriers up to 100 smaller drones. To an American fighter pilot, China's drone mothership is one big fat target, but you get the idea. Enemy drones can come from anywhere. It takes tremendous intelligence and surveillance and help from AI to keep track of all the possible Chinese attack vectors. Even more consequential was the reach of the strikes. Belaya air base is in Siberia, 3,000 miles from Kyiv, near Lake Baikal. They lost 4 Tu-95s, 3 Tu-22s and the A-50. Olenya airbase is up on the Kola peninsula near Murmansk. The Pentagon finished a classified counter-drone strategy last December and has many ways to protect our planes against drones. Close in, the Army and Marines have systems like the Coyote, a 24-inch drone that intercepts other drones. Fighter jets are a great counter-drone weapon. Central Command deployed F-15s to Diego Garcia to protect B-2 and B-52 bombers. Back in January 2024, Navy F/A-18EF Superhornets from the USS Eisenhower shot down five Houthi drones with air-to-air missiles. But drone defense needs to be a top priority. Just to be safe, better buy more of the new B-21 Raider stealth bombers for good measure. It's the only bomber America has in production. For the moment, savor Ukraine's brilliant strike on Putin's terror bombers. Too bad Ukraine can't do it again. Or can they?
Time of India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Ukraine releases new drone strike footage: Bombers hit deep inside Russia; Kremlin vows response
Ukraine has released footage of the covert drone operation that it claimed destroyed or severely damaged 41 Russian warplanes across four air bases, in one of the boldest strikes since the war began. The operation, codenamed Spider's Web, reportedly took over 18 months to prepare and was hailed by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as 'a brilliant operation for the history books.' Putin 'Vows BLOODY REVENGE' As Ukraine Releases FULL VIDEO Of Operation Spiderweb | Watch The attack, carried out by Ukraine's Security Service (SBU), involved launching swarms of first-person-view (FPV) drones from inside Russian territory using hidden compartments built into trucks. The drones targeted strategic bombers including Tu-95s and Tu-22M3s, used by Moscow to launch missile barrages on Ukrainian cities, as well as one of Russia's few remaining A-50 airborne radar aircraft. Zelenskyy said the operation hit 34% of Russia's strategic cruise missile carriers. Drone strike reaches Siberia The full video, released by the SBU on Wednesday, showed drones flying under and over Russian aircraft, some already ablaze. The strikes hit Belaya air base in Siberia 4,000 km from Ukraine as well as airfields in Murmansk, Ivanovo, and Ryazan. According to Ukrainian officials, the drones were launched from trucks parked near the airbases. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Perdagangkan CFD Emas dengan Broker Tepercaya IC Markets Mendaftar Undo These trucks were fitted with automated compartments and the drones remained hidden for days or weeks before the order to launch was given. CNN reported the drones were not launched from Ukrainian soil, but from areas close to the targeted airfields, confirming the unprecedented infiltration into Russian territory. Defence analysts noted that the drones used fibre-optic cables for control rather than radio frequencies, allowing them to evade Russian jamming. Russia's defence ministry confirmed the attacks, saying they caused fires and damage to aircraft, though they insisted the blazes were contained. Pro-Russian military bloggers, however, called it a 'black day for aviation,' with the Telegram channel Rybar citing a 'very heavy blow' and intelligence failure. Ukraine estimates the damage at \$7 billion. The operation comes at a crucial moment in the 3½-year conflict, with peace talks floundering and Russia intensifying missile and drone barrages on Ukrainian cities. Just a day before the drone attack, Moscow launched a record 472 drones in a single day, reportedly in an attempt to exhaust Ukraine's air defences. The morale-boosting strike followed previous audacious Ukrainian operations, including the sinking of the Moskva in 2022 and attacks on the Kerch Bridge. SBU chief Vasyl Maliuk said, 'The enemy thought it could bomb Ukraine with impunity. But we will destroy them everywhere at sea, in the air, and on land. And if necessary, we'll get them from underground too.' The United States said it was not informed of the operation in advance. President Donald Trump, who spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin by phone after the attack, said the conversation was 'positive but not one that will lead to immediate peace.' Putin reportedly told Trump that there would be a response.
Irish Daily Star
6 days ago
- Business
- Irish Daily Star
Trump mysteriously deletes Truth Social post minutes after warning of imminent Putin attack
Donald Trump caused confusion on Wednesday afternoon after deleting a Truth Social post about a phone call with Vladimir Putin - only to repost it again about an hour later. The post remained visible on the White House X account throughout, but vanished from his Truth Social page for just over an hour. Trump said that he spoke on the phone with Putin for about an hour and 15 minutes, speaking about the recent attacks in the Russia-Ukraine war . Trump said "it was a good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate Peace." Read More Related Articles Ivanka Trump subtly shades dad as she supports President's nemesis Read More Related Articles Karoline Leavitt left red-faced after humiliating press conference fail "President Putin did say, and very strongly, that he will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields," Trump wrote. The post has now been reposted to Trump's Truth Social (Image: Truth Social) Trump added that the two also discussed Iran. "I just finished speaking, by telephone, with President Vladimir Putin, of Russia. The call lasted approximately one hour and 15 minutes. We discussed the attack on Russia's docked airplanes, by Ukraine, and also various other attacks that have been taking place by both sides," the post read. "It was a good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate Peace. President Putin did say, and very strongly, that he will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields. We also discussed Iran, and the fact that time is running out on Iran's decision pertaining to nuclear weapons, which must be made quickly! I stated to President Putin that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon and, on this, I believe that we were in agreement," the post continued. "President Putin suggested that he will participate in the discussions with Iran and that he could, perhaps, be helpful in getting this brought to a rapid conclusion. It is my opinion that Iran has been slowwaking their decision on this very important matter, and we will need a definitive answer in a ver short period of time!" the post concluded. The call, confirmed by both Trump and the Kremlin, followed Ukraine's dramatic launch of Operation Spider Web. The mission was a long-range, AI-guided drone offensive that destroyed or damaged at least 41 Russian military aircraft, according to Kyiv's intelligence services. Targets included strategic bombers such as Tu-95s, Tu-160s, and Tu-22s, aircraft capable of carrying nuclear payloads. The strikes, which reached deep into Russian territory, have been hailed in Ukraine as a strategic triumph. But in Moscow, the embarrassment has boiled over into fury. In a video conference with top Russian officials, Putin denounced Ukraine's attacks as 'terrorist acts,' pointing specifically to recent sabotage operations on railway lines in Russia's Kursk and Bryansk regions. He warned that conditions were not good to peace negotiations, suggesting instead that Ukraine was stalling to rearm and regroup. 'How can any such (summit) meetings be conducted in such circumstances? What shall we talk about?' he asked. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy swiftly responded, calling Russia's proposed ceasefire terms 'an ultimatum' and branding the Istanbul negotiations as 'artificial diplomacy.' For all the latest news straight to your inbox, sign up for our FREE newsletters here . 'The same ultimatums they voiced back then — now they just put them on paper ... Honestly, this document looks like spam. It's spam meant to flood us and create the impression that they're doing something,' Zelenskyy said. While Ukraine presses for a US-mediated ceasefire ahead of any direct leader summit, Putin remains dismissive. For the latest local news and features on Irish America, visit our homepage here .
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First Post
6 days ago
- Politics
- First Post
How Ukraine drone strikes deep inside Russia serves as a lesson for other countries
Ukraine's Operation Spider Web — a coordinated series of drone strikes — lays bare the gaps in airspace which can be used by any party with enough planning and the right technology. What Ukraine did was to combine the cheap drones in a way that existing systems could not prevent the attack, or maybe even see it coming read more Plumes of smoke are seen rising over the Belaya air base in the Irkutsk region in eastern Siberia after a Ukrainian drone attack in the Irkutsk region, more than 4,000 kilometres from Ukraine. AP Ukrainians are celebrating the success of one of the most audacious coups of the war against Russia – a coordinated drone strike on June 1 on five airbases deep inside Russian territory. Known as Operation Spider Web, it was the result of 18 months of planning and involved the smuggling of drones into Russia, synchronised launch timings and improvised control centres hidden inside freight vehicles. Ukrainian sources claim more than 40 Russian aircraft were damaged or destroyed. Commercial satellite imagery confirms significant fire damage, cratered runways, and blast patterns across multiple sites, although the full extent of losses remains disputed. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The targets were strategic bomber aircraft and surveillance planes, including Tu-95s and A-50 airborne early warning systems. The drones were launched from inside Russia and navigated at treetop level using line-of-sight piloting and GPS pre-programming. Each was controlled from a mobile ground station parked within striking distance of the target. It is reported that a total of 117 drones were deployed across five locations. While many were likely intercepted, or fell short, enough reached their targets to signal a dramatic breach in Russia's rear-area defence. The drone platforms themselves were familiar. These were adapted first-person-view (FPV) multirotor drones. These are ones where the operator gets a first-person perspective from the drone's onboard camera. These are already used in huge numbers along the front lines in Ukraine by both sides. But Operation Spider Web extended their impact through logistical infiltration and timing. Operation Spider Web exposes vulnerabilities Nations treat their airspace as sovereign, a controlled environment: mapped, regulated and watched over. Air defence systems are built on the assumption that threats come from above and from beyond national borders. Detection and response also reflect that logic. It is focused on mid and high-altitude surveillance and approach paths from beyond national borders. But Operation Spider Web exposed what happens when states are attacked from below and from within. In low-level airspace, visibility drops, responsibility fragments, and detection tools lose their edge. Drones arrive unannounced, response times lag, coordination breaks. Spider Web worked not because of what each drone could do individually, but because of how the operation was designed. It was secret and carefully planned of course, but also mobile, flexible and loosely coordinated. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A satellite image shows damage to aircraft at an airfield in Irkutsk, following Ukrainian drones attack targeting Russian military airfields, in the course of Russia-Ukraine conflict, in Stepnoy, Irkutsk region, Russia. Reuters The cost of each drone was low but the overall effect was high. This isn't just asymmetric warfare, it's a different kind of offensive capability – and any defence needs to adapt accordingly. On Ukraine's front lines, where drone threats are constant, both sides have adapted by deploying layers of detection tools, short range air defences and jamming systems. In turn, drone operators have turned to alternatives. One option is drones that use spools of shielded fibre optic cable. The cable is attached to the drone at one end and to the controller held by the operator at the other. Another option involves drones with preloaded flight paths to avoid detection. Fibre links, when used for control or coordination, emit no radio signal and so bypass radio frequency (RF) -based surveillance entirely. There is nothing to intercept or jam. Preloaded paths remove the need for live communication altogether. Once launched, the drone follows a pre-programmed route without broadcasting its position or receiving commands. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD As a result, airspace is never assumed to be secure but is instead understood to be actively contested and requiring continuous management. By contrast, Operation Spider Web targeted rear area airbases where more limited adaptive systems existed. The drones flew low, through unmonitored gaps, exploiting assumptions about what kind of threat was faced and from where. Lessons to be learnt from Operation Spider Web Spider Web is not the first long-range drone operation of this war, nor the first to exploit gaps in Russian defences. What Spider Web confirms is that the gaps in airspace can be used by any party with enough planning and the right technology. They can be exploited not just by states and not just in war. The technology is not rare and the tactics are not complicated. What Ukraine did was to combine them in a way that existing systems could not prevent the attack or maybe even see it coming. This is far from a uniquely Russian vulnerability – it is the defining governance challenge of drones in low level airspace. Civil and military airspace management relies on the idea that flight paths are knowable and can be secured. In our work on UK drone regulation, we have described low level airspace as acting like a common pool resource. This means that airspace is widely accessible. It is also difficult to keep out drones with unpredictable flightpaths. Under this vision of airspace, it can only be meaningfully governed by more agile and distributed decision making. Operation Spider Web confirms that military airspace behaves in a similar way. Centralised systems to govern airspace can struggle to cope with what happens at the scale of the Ukrainian attacks – and the cost of failure can be strategic. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Improving low-level airspace governance will require better technologies, better detection and faster responses. New sensor technologies such as passive radio frequency detectors, thermal imaging, and acoustic (sound-based) arrays can help close current visibility gaps, especially when combined. But detection alone is not enough. Interceptors including capture drones (drones that hunt and disable other drones), nets to ensnare drones, and directed energy weapons such as high powered lasers are being developed and trialled. However, most of these are limited by range, cost, or legal constraints. Nevertheless, airspace is being reshaped by new forms of access, use and improvisation. Institutions built around centralised ideas of control; air corridors, zones, and licensing are being outpaced. Security responses are struggling to adapt to the fact that airspace with drones is different. It is no longer passively governed by altitude and authority. It must be actively and differently managed. Operation Spider Web didn't just reveal how Ukraine could strike deep into Russian territory. It showed how little margin for error there is in a world where cheap systems can be used quietly and precisely. That is not just a military challenge. It is a problem where airspace management depends less on central control and more on distributed coordination, shared monitoring and responsive intervention. The absence of these conditions is what Spider Web exploited. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Michael A. Lewis, Professor of Operations and Supply Management, University of Bath This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
