Latest news with #TupolevTu-95
India.com
21-07-2025
- Politics
- India.com
Russia suddenly launched missile attack on Ukraine from 3800 km away, Bad news for Trump and Ukraine due to...
Russia-Ukraine war (File) Russia-Ukraine war: In a significant development in the Russia-Ukraine war amid the talks of a possible ceasefire between the two parties, Russian forces, under the leadership of Vladimir Putin carried out a long-range missile strike on Ukraine using Tu-95 'Bear' strategic bombers. Taking off from the Belaya Airbase in Irkutsk Oblast, which is about 2,360 miles away from Ukrainian territory, Russian has launched the massive attack on Ukraine, weeks after Ukraine attacked several Russian cities in its massive drone attack. Here are all the details you need to know about Russia's recent attack on Ukraine using the Tu-95 'Bear' strategic bombers. How dangerous are Tupolev Tu-95 bombers? Tupolev Tu-95 (code-named Bear) is a heavy bomber plane first used in the Cold War. Made by Tupolev, the Tupolev Tu-95 was able to carry four powerful nuclear bombs. In addition to this, the bomber aircraft also supports Il-78 aerial refuelers which make it possible for the aircraft to make such a long journey without any mid-air landing. Russia's air defense systems intercepts aerial threats from Ukraine In another significant development, Russian news channel RT reported that Russia's air defense systems intercepted more than 150 incoming aerial threats, including at least 13 drones headed toward Moscow overnight. As per Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin and Russia's Ministry of Defense, 'at least 13 of those drones were intercepted en route to Moscow,' adding there were no casualties or damage. Emergency crews were deployed to respond to crash sites. The Russian Defense Ministry said that a total of 158 hostile aerial targets were downed since 6:15 pm Friday across multiple regions, including Bryansk, Oryol, Kaluga, Rostov, Tula, Kursk, Smolensk, Voronezh, and Moscow. The large-scale drone raid is one of the most extensive in recent weeks, RT noted. Notably, Ukraine has intensified its UAV attacks deep into Russian territory over the past week, with many targeting residential areas and civilian infrastructure. (With inputs from agencies)
NDTV
04-06-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Satellite Pics Of 2 Russian Airbases Reveal Extent Of Damage By Ukrainian Drones
Quick Read Summary is AI generated, newsroom reviewed. High-resolution satellite images reveal damage at two Russian airbases from a Ukrainian drone attack. Belaya and Olenya airbases, targeted under Ukraine's Operation Spider Web, sustained significant destruction. At least ten bombers, including Tupolev Tu-95 and Tu-22, were reportedly destroyed at the two airbases. Hi-resolution satellite images of two of the five Russian air bases targeted by Ukraine in its audacious drone attack have emerged, giving a glimpse of the destruction caused by the explosive-laden drones. Clear images have taken more than 48 hours after the attack because of cloud cover over these air bases, all of which are deep inside Russian territory. Ukraine, under its Operation Spider Web, targeted the Belaya Air Base in Siberia's Irkutsk, the Olenya Air Base in the Arctic region's Murmansk, the Ivanovo Severny Air Base in Ivanovo, the Dyagilevo Air Base in Ryazan, and Ukrainka Air Base in Russia's Far East. While the nearest of these air bases is located more than 500 km from the Ukraine border, the farthest one is located as much as 8,000 km from the border. The latest post-strike satellite images of the Belaya and Olenya air bases show the damage caused to Russian air infrastructure. At both these airbases, one can see the debris of several military aircraft that were lined up on the tarmac at the time of the attack. At the Belaya air base, located more than 4,000 kilometres inside Russian territory, satellite pictures taken on June 4 show the fuselage and wings of at least two of Russia's frontline bomber - the Tupolev Tu-95 - burnt to ashes. The intensity of the explosions here were so intense that debris can be seen flung nearly 100 meters away where a decoy can be seen painted on the tarmac. Another picture shows four Tupolev Tu-22 supersonic bombers - a mainstay of the Russian Air Force- parked on the tarmac while a fifth is seen completely decimated further down the parking bay. The image suggests that some clean-up activity has happened in the last two days, with parts of the destroyed aircraft removed from the area. The Tupolev Tu-22 is used to target enemy aircraft carriers and other naval assets of the enemy, however, due to its speed, versatility, and adaptability, these sleekly designed bombers have been used for missions to target ground-based military assets deep inside enemy territory. At least 10 bombers at the Belaya airbase can clearly be seen destroyed in the Ukrainian attack | Hi-Res Image Here Several other aircraft - all bombers - parked in a zigzag formation at the Belaya airbase could also be seen completely destroyed. In total, at least 10 bombers at the Belaya airbase can clearly be seen destroyed in the Ukrainian attack, however, due to the clean-up activity by the Russian Air Force over the past 48 hours, it is difficult to predict how many of which type of bomber aircraft were destroyed. At the Olenya Airbase, located in the Arctic region 2,000 km from Ukraine's border, satellite pictures show multiple aircraft standing beside each other on the tarmac now reduced to dust and ash. It is difficult to assume which of Russia's military jets were destroyed here, tough pre-attack satellite images reveal that here too, the Tu-22 and Tu-95 aircraft were stationed. It was from this air base that the first video of the Ukranian drone strike emerged, which showed explosive-laden drones mainly targeting the Tu-95 bombers. The footage shows smoke billowing from these bombers, which were parked side-by-side on the tarmac. There is still a considerable amount of cloud cover over the three other airbases which were targeted by Ukraine and hi-resolution satellite images are likely to come only after the weather clears. While today's satellite pictures show at least ten aircraft being targeted, Ukraine has said that as many as 41 Russian military jets have been destroyed in the Trojan-horse styled attack, where drones were sent secretly concealed in container trucks before being deployed remotely. Moscow was caught off-guard presumably over the fact that these airbases are located so far inside Russia that the sheer distance was enough to keep aircraft safe from a Ukrainian attack. Though western allies have supplied Ukraine with missiles too - the US-made ATACMS and the British-French-made Storm Shadow - neither has the range to hit these air bases located deep inside Russian territory. Despite the successful drone attack, the Russian Air Force, which has an immensely greater aircraft fleet, maintains air superiority over Ukraine. Ukraine's attack though has given a huge boost to Kyiv's morale, while creating a big dent on the morale of Moscow. According to US President Donald Trump, who spoke to Vladimir Putin for over an hour today, the Russian President has vowed to retaliate Ukraine's attack. In a post on social media platform Truth Social, President Trump wrote, "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. 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."
Herald Sun
04-06-2025
- Business
- Herald Sun
Trump says Putin ‘will respond' to Ukraine airfield attacks
Don't miss out on the headlines from World. Followed categories will be added to My News. Donald Trump has said he held a phone call with Vladimir Putin he told him 'very strongly' that Russia would have to respond to Ukraine's audacious attack on some if its most important bomber bases. 'It was a good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate peace,' said the US president on Wednesday, US time. While Russia has continued to bomb Ukraine since Sunday's 'Operation Spider Web' attacks, it will raise fears a more forceful response could be imminent. No indication was given by Mr Trump of when a response could come or what form it night take. Various commentators within Russia have said that the destruction of a number of long range bombers that can carry nuclear weapons is grounds for using nuclear weapons on Ukraine. However, nuclear sabre rattling is common after major Ukrainian attacks. Russia could ratchet up its conventional attacks with more missiles and drones. Ukraine's air defences are already stretched. US President Trump spoke to Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, US time. President Trump said the call with Putin lasted around one hour and 15 minutes. 'We discussed the attack on Russia's docked aeroplanes, by Ukraine, and also various other attacks that have been taking place by both sides,' Mr Trump write on social media. '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.' Ukraine and Russia have now held two recent rounds of peace talks which have led to the exchange of prisoners. But the two remain far apart when it comes to grounds for compromise. Donald Trump previously said he had given Putin a two week deadline to get to a meaningful point to stopping the conflict. But no mention of that deadline, which is not yet up, was made. This handout satellite picture courtesy of Maxar Technologies taken on June 4, 2025 shows destroyed Tupolev Tu-95 aircraft at Belaya Airbase near Usolye-Sibirs Mr Trump also sold the two discussed Iran where the US is trying to stop Tehran from building a nuclear weapon. 'Time is running out on Iran's decision pertaining to nuclear weapons, which must be made quickly!' he wrote. 'I stated to President Putin that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon and, on this, I believe that we were in agreement. '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.' Mr Trump said in his opinion, 'Iran has been slow walking their decision on this very important matter'. 'We will need a definitive answer in a very short period of time!' Many have said that Russia has also been slow walking Ukraine peace talks with Moscow refusing to sign up to a 30 day ceasefire. Originally published as Trump says Putin 'will respond' to Ukraine airfield attacks
Boston Globe
02-06-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Ukraine's drone attack on Russian warplanes was a serious blow to the Kremlin's strategic arsenal
While some Russian military bloggers compared it to another infamous Sunday surprise attack — that of Japan's strike on the U.S. base at Pearl Harbor in 1941 — others rejected the analogy, arguing the actual damage was far less significant than Ukraine claimed Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up A look at what warplanes were reported hit: Advertisement Russia's bomber assets For decades, long-range bombers have been part of the Soviet and Russian nuclear triad that also includes land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles and atomic-powered submarines carrying ICBMs. The strategic bombers have flown regular patrols around the globe showcasing Moscow's nuclear might. During the 3-year-old war in Ukraine, Russia has used the heavy planes to launch waves of cruise missile strikes across the country. The Tupolev Tu-95, which was code named Bear by NATO, is a four-engine turboprop plane designed in the 1950s to rival the U.S. B-52 bomber. The aircraft has an intercontinental range and carries eight long-range cruise missiles that can be equipped with conventional or nuclear warheads. Advertisement Before Sunday, Russia was estimated to have a fleet of about 60 such aircraft. The Tupolev Tu-22M is a twin-engine supersonic bomber designed in the 1970s that was code named Backfire by NATO. It has a shorter range compared with the Tu-95, but during U.S.-Soviet arms control talks in the 1970s, Washington insisted on counting them as part of the Soviet strategic nuclear arsenal because of their capability to reach the U.S. if refueled in flight. The latest version of the plane, the Tu-22M3, carries Kh-22 cruise missiles that fly at more than three times the speed of sound. It dates to the 1970s, when it was designed by the Soviet Union to strike U.S. aircraft carriers. It packs a big punch, thanks to its supersonic speed and ability to carry 630 kilograms (nearly 1,400 pounds) of explosives, but its outdated guidance system could make it highly inaccurate against ground targets, raising the possibility of collateral damage. Some Tu-22Ms were lost in previous Ukrainian attacks, and Russia was estimated to have between 50 and 60 Tu-22M3s in service before Sunday's drone strike. The production of the Tu-95 and the Tu-22M ended after the 1991 collapse of the USSR, meaning that any of them lost Sunday can't be replaced. Russia also has another type of strategic nuclear capable bomber, the supersonic Tu-160. Fewer than 20 of them are in service, and Russia has just begun production of its modernized version equipped with new engines and avionics. Russia lost a significant part of its heavy bomber fleet in the attack 'with no immediate ability to replace it,' said Douglas Barrie of the International Institute of Strategic Studies, noting that Moscow's announced plan to develop the next generation strategic bomber is still in its early phase. Advertisement 'Ironically this might give impetus to that program, because if if you want to keep your bomber fleet up to size, then you're going to have to do something at some point,' he said. The A-50, which Ukrainian officials also said was hit in the strikes, is an early warning and control aircraft similar to the U.S. AWACS planes used to coordinate aerial attacks. Only few such planes are in service with the Russian military, and any loss badly dents Russia's military capability. Relocating bombers and impromptu protection Repeated Ukrainian strikes on the Engels air base, the main base for Russian nuclear capable strategic bombers near the Volga River city of Saratov, prompted Moscow to relocate the bombers to other bases farther from the conflict. One of them was Olenya on the Arctic Kola Peninsula, from where Tu-95s have flown multiple missions to launch cruise missiles at Ukraine. Several bombers at Olenya apparently were hit by the Ukrainian drones Sunday, according to analysts studying satellite images before and after the strike. Other drones targeted the Belaya air base in the Irkutsk region in eastern Siberia, destroying a few Tu-22M bombers, according to analysts. Ukraine said 41 aircraft — Tu-95s, Tu-22Ms and A-50s — were damaged or destroyed Sunday. in the attack that it said was in the works for 18 months in which swarms of drones popped out of containers carried on trucks that were parked near four air bases. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was briefed on the attack, which represented a level of sophistication that Washington had not seen before, a senior defense official said on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters. Advertisement The Russian Defense Ministry said the attack set several warplanes ablaze at air bases in the Irkutsk region in eastern Siberia and the Murmansk region in the north, but the fires were extinguished. It said Ukraine also tried to strike two air bases in western Russia, as well as another one in the Amur region of Russia's Far East, but those attacks were repelled. The drone strikes produced an outcry from Russian military bloggers, who criticized the Defense Ministry for failing to learn from previous strikes and protect the bombers. Building shelters or hangars for such large planes is a daunting task, and the military has tried some impromptu solutions that were criticized as window dressing. Satellite images have shown Tu-95s at various air bases covered by layers of old tires – a measure of dubious efficiency that has drawn mockery on social media.
Time of India
01-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
'Our most long-range operation': Ukrainian President Zelenskyy hails ‘brilliant' drone strikes on Russia
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday praised the drone strike deep inside Russia, calling it a 'brilliant result' and an important moment in the war. The operation, over a year and a half in the making, targeted several Russian military airfields, destroying more than 40 aircraft, including bombers and surveillance planes. It marked what Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) called the most extensive strike yet on Russian soil, carried out entirely by Ukrainian forces. 'An absolutely brilliant result. A result achieved solely by Ukraine.' Zelenskyy posted on social media platform X. — ZelenskyyUa (@ZelenskyyUa) 'Our most long-range operation,' he said, adding 'Our people involved in preparing the operation were withdrawn from Russian territory in time.' Thanking General Vasyl Maliuk, the head of Ukraine's Security Service, Zelenskyy said the success would be remembered as a defining chapter in the war, 'these are Ukrainian actions that will undoubtedly be in history books.' The mission, called Operation Spider Web, reportedly destroyed 41 Russian planes, including strategic Tupolev Tu-95 and Tu-22M bombers, aircraft frequently used by Moscow to launch missile attacks on Ukraine. Also hit was the A-50, a critical airborne early warning system used to coordinate missile strikes. According to a senior Ukrainian military official speaking to the AP, the operation was 'extremely complex'. Ukraine's Security Service said the operation caused an estimated $7 billion in damage and destroyed 34% of Russia's fleet of air missile carriers. However, these claims have not been independently verified. Zelenskyy also said that 117 drones were deployed in the massive attack. "A total of 117 drones were used in the operation. And a corresponding number of drone operators worked," Zelensky said in a statement, quoted by AFP. The Russian defence ministry confirmed attacks on bases in Irkutsk and Murmansk, more than 4,000 km from Ukraine, and said other strikes had been repelled in Amur, Ivanovo, and Ryazan. The drone strike came just ahead of a new round of direct peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow in Istanbul on Monday. 'Ukraine is defending itself, and rightly so,' Zelenskyy said. 'we are doing everything to make Russia feel the need to end this war. Russia started this war, Russia must end it. Glory to Ukraine!'
