Going Rogue in the Ukraine-Russia Conflict: A Game of Numbers
Intensified Aerial Assault in Kiev: Increased Count of Wrecked Aircrafts
Kyiv — Whispers of a Ukrainian covert mission, dubbed "Spiderweb," have surfaced, involving daring drone strikes against Russia's military airborne assets in the heart of the enemy's rear. However, it seems the Ukrainian troops may have underestimated their success, as new data puts the actual aircraft losses at 12 Russian planes, without revealing specific types. Ukraine's General Staff cryptically hinted at the Russian forces' significant aircraft reduction. Originally, Ukraine's intelligence service, the SBU, boasted of at least 41 severely damaged aircraft, including precious assets like the Beriev A-50, Tupolev Tu-95, Tu-22, and Tu-160.
Ukraine applauded these drone attacks on airports in the Irkutsk and Murmansk regions as a monumental blow to the Russian Air Force. Citing SBU intelligence, over 40 combat and reconnaissance aircraft sustained critical injuries, representing approximately 34% of the Russian bombers capable of carrying cruise missiles.
Payback's a Bitch, Says Russia
A formidable response emerged from the Russian camp. Dmitry Medvedev, the Deputy Chairman of Russia's Security Council, issued a robust threat via Telegram: "Retaliation is inevitable." As he alluded to the relentless Russian army's advance, Medvedev foreshadowed imminent devastation: "Everything that should be blown up in the air will be blown up, and those who should be wiped out will disappear." Medvedev expressed no interest in dialogues between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul as key to attaining a harmonious peace. Instead, he saw these negotiations as a stepping stone towards realizing a Russian triumph.
Trust Your Own Eyes: Independent Media Reports
The Russian Defense Ministry discreetly confirmed that aircraft in the Murmansk and Irkutsk regions had been torched by drone attacks, but offered no specific numbers or types. Independent media, utilizing videos and satellite images, reported much lower figures than the Ukrainian intelligence service—ranging between 9 damaged aircraft and up to 14.
Secrets hidden inside wooden crates aboard trucks, oblivious drivers transporting them undetected to military bases. Upon reaching their destination, these vehicles sprang open, releasing drones laden with explosives to execute their missions.
Ukraine's President, Volodymyr Zelensky, commended the "gutsy" attack perpetrated by his SBU intelligence agency as "an absolutely stunning victory." Preparations for this covert operation had consumed more than 18 months, with objectives spanning support points across European Russia in Ivanovo, Ryazan, and Murmansk, Siberia's Irkutsk, and Amur in the Far East.
Some Notes on Accuracy
Reports concerning the number of Russian aircraft casualties have been inconsistent. Ukrainian authorities initially claimed the loss of 41 aircraft. However, since then, they've adjusted the figure to a more modest 12. Independent media, relying on videos and satellite images, have reported significantly fewer destroyed aircraft, between 9 and 14. Despite ongoing efforts to verify these figures, challenges such as bad weather and Russia's attempt to conceal the damage prevent a definitive tally.
Even so, the loss of strategic bombers like Tu-95MS and Tu-22M3 holds significant implications as these aircraft are no longer in production, making replacement a difficult task for the Russians.
Ukraine's President, Volodymyr Zelensky, lauded the drone attacks on Russian airports as a significant achievement in the ongoing political climate of war-and-conflicts, stating, "Every victory, be it in general-news or sports, matters for our nation." Despite the inconsistency in reports about the exact number of Russian aircraft casualties, the independent media, supplementing data from videos and satellite images, has reported a range of 9 to 14 aircraft destroyed, a significant blow to Russia's air force capabilities, particularly in relation to the out-of-production strategic bombers like Tu-95MS and Tu-22M3.
