If the information about serious damage to three Tu-95 strategic bombers at Russian airfields is confirmed, it will be possible to state that Russia has lost about 5% of such aircraft. This is stated in the latest report of the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW), UNN reports.
Details
According to the report, on the night of April 4-5, the SBU and the Defense Forces carried out one of the largest series of drone strikes on military targets in Russia, targeting at least four Russian air bases.
"Ukrainian drones severely damaged three Tu-95MS strategic bombers at the Engels airbase, damaged two Su-25 aircraft at the airbase near Yeysk, destroyed six unidentified aircraft and severely damaged eight more unidentified aircraft at the Morozovsk airbase," the report says.
Analysts also note that Ukrainian strikes on targets in Russia are a necessary component of the Ukrainian campaign to degrade industries that support Russian military efforts and military capabilities deployed in the Russian rear.
Russian forces regularly use Tu-95 strategic bombers stationed at the Engels airbase to launch X-101/X-555 cruise missiles at targets in Ukraine, and as of 2023, the Russian military had approximately 60 Tu-95 aircraft.
If this is confirmed (the destruction of Tu-95 aircraft - ed.), the possible loss of about 5 % of Russian Tu-95 strategic bombers in one strike will be noticeable
Earlier, ISW emphasized that the losses of the aircraft are not insignificant, as Russia probably has about 300 different Sukhoi aircraft that it uses to launch guided and unguided bomb strikes along the entire front line in Ukraine, and previously used significantly enhanced guided bomb strikes to gain tactical advantages.
"Continued Ukrainian strikes on Russian airfields in Russia will impair the ability of the Russian Aerospace Forces to launch missile and air strikes throughout Ukraine," ISW adds.
Recall
The airfield of the same name was attacked in Morozovsk in Russia, where explosions were heard on the night of April 5 . The operation was carried out by the SBU together with the military and the Defense Forces, and at least 6 aircraft were destroyed.