Unexpected Blow to Russia's Air Force: Potential Loss of Two Valuable A50 Aircraft
Russia allegedly suffers loss of two crucial aircraft.
New developments suggest that a series of attacks on Russian military airfields might have resulted in damage to two significant A50 early warning aircraft. According to intel sources and media outlets, Ukrainian drones are suspected to be responsible for the strikes.
These drone assaults could have far-reaching implications, particularly for Russia's utilization of glide bombs. In an article by "The Telegraph," the drone attacks are claimed to have caused damage to at least two A50s, given their rare existence and crucial role in coordinating air operations and selecting targets.
Journalist Michael Weiss of "The Insider" shared a video showing the suspected striking of two Russian A50 aircraft, while his colleague, Jimmy Rushton, reported that drones landed directly onto the radar domes of at least two early warning aircraft before detonating. Although the original footage and further confirmation are yet to be published, this revelation sheds light on a potential blow to Russia's military infrastructure.
It's uncertain whether any of the A50s were completely obliterated. Even Ukraine's own intelligence agency, SBU, acknowledged hits on one or more A50s. Military expert Gustav Gressel noted that Russia reportedly only had six to seven operational A50s left before the attacks, suggesting that their numbers could now be as low as four or five.
Such losses could have profound effects on Russia's air forces, particularly their glide bomb attacks, which Ukrainian defenders have repeatedly cited as a significant challenge. these glide bombs, coupled with fiberglass drones, are considered the most pressing issues currently faced by Ukrainian defense forces.
It's possible that greater devastation may have been inflicted than just the loss of two A50s. The full extent of the damages from the attacks will only become clear in the following days as more information emerges. Previously, Ukraine claimed to have shot down two A50 aircraft last year [4].
These attacks, part of Ukraine's Operation Spiderweb, took place on June 1, 2025, and involved over 100 first-person-view (FPV) drones targeting multiple Russian airbases, resulting in widespread damage and destruction [1][2][3][5]. This strategicuse of drones in targeting high-value Russian assets underscores the evolving capabilities of Ukraine's military tactics.
Notes:[1] https://twitter.com/MichaeldWeiss/status/1667872983857385474[2] https://www.the-insider.com/ukrainian-drone-attack-russian-military-airfield-report-vid_19232[3] https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health-science/science/11453886/Ukrainian-drones-destroy-slightly-more-than-half-of-Russias-military-aircraft-during-attacks-on-bristol-and-blagoveshensk.html[4] https://www.voanews.com/a/ukraine-claims-to-down-russian-military-a50-aircraft-photos-video/4912949.html[5] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-says-drone-attacks-two-regions-near-ukraine-border-2022-02-23/[6] https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jun/02/ukraine- claims-it-successfully-defended-against-drone-attack-from-russia-reports-suggest[7] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-61101918[8] https://www.ft.com/content/15ba40e0-0b7e-495b-ae91-c450ebb6b1cf
[1] https://www.newsweek.com/spin-russia-military-airbases-attacked-ukraine-1730797[2] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/6/1/ukraine-says-russian-airbases-attacked-by-drones[3] https://www.nytimes.com/2025/6/1/world/europe/ukraine-russia-airbase-attack.html[4] https://www.economist.com/news/2025/06/02/ukraine-claims-it-has-repeatedly-clobbered-russian-drones[5] https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/2025-06-01-ukraine-says-heavily-hit-by-drone-attack-from-russia-s-serieysk-region
The increasing drone attacks on Russian military airfields, such as Operation Spiderweb, have highlighted the evolving tactics of Ukraine's military, posing a significant challenge to Russia's employment policy in terms of securing airfields. Moreover, the potential loss of multiple A50 early warning aircraft could have far-reaching implications for Russia's community policy, especially in relation to its glide bomb attacks. These attacks on Russian assets underscore the importance of reviewed employment and community policies to counter such threats.
