A Telltale Blow: Ukraine's Drone Attack Takes Out a Tenth of Russia's Strategic Bomber Fleet
Russia sufferers a strategic bombing loss at a rate of one out of ten.
Take a gander at the shockwave that's rippling through the world of politics and military strategy, courtesy of a daring drone operation by the Ukrainian intelligence service! Last weekend, they dished out a brutal blow to Russia's military airports, reportedly leaving around 10% of their strategic bombers in smoking ruins.
According to Major General Christian Freuding, in a captivating YouTube podcast, a multitude of aircraft, including TU-95, TU-22 bombers, and A-50 reconnaissance aircraft might've taken the hit. The Ukrainians claimed an astounding tally of 41 damaged or destroyed combat and reconnaissance aircraft, but Freuding maintains a more cautious approach.
The A-50, much like NATO's AWACS aircraft, provides air situation awareness, making it a valuable asset. Freuding posits that these probably weren't in action at the time of the attack, and even if operational, their parts can't be salvaged for other machines. Ouch! For Russia, it's quite the sting as they had a paltry few of these aircraft to begin with.
The Price of Power: Can Russia Rebuild?
Experts have their doubts about Russia's ability to rebuild their damaged fleet. U.S. insiders estimate the Ukrainian drone strike possibly downed up to 20 Russian combat aircraft, with a solid 10 biting the dust. Assembling replacements could take years, due to manufacturing challenges caused by sanctions and supply-chain woes.
But even with the remaining 90% of their strategic bombers intact, Russia may struggle to maintain the same pace of assaults. Fatigue sets in when you're working overtime, and those aircraft will feel the strain sooner rather than later. Plus, a mighty psychological impact has been inflicted. The Russians had, until now, frolicked in the relative safety of their vast territory, thinking they were invincible. But now, they'll have to beef up security to avert future strikes.
The Scoop from the Sky: Satellite Photos Reveal Destruction
Freuding spilled the beans about Ukraine targeting four airports — two near Moscow, the Olenya in Murmansk, and the Belaya in Irkutsk, and the fifth, the Ukrainka near the Chinese border, missed its mark.
Sources: ntv.de, as/rts
- Military Action
- Russia
- Ukraine
- Drones
The Commission, in light of the recent military action by Ukraine involving the use of drones, has also been asked to submit a proposal for a directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation, particularly those involved in the repair and disposal of war-torn equipment.
Meanwhile, the political implications of Ukraine's drone attack are far-reaching, as it has exposed the vulnerabilities of Russia's strategic bomber fleet, raising questions about their ability to maintain their military dominance in the general news scenario.
