Ukrainians attacked elements of Russian atomic triad

polska-zbrojna.pl 3 months ago

On the night of 19-20 March, Ukrainians attacked the base of Russian strategical forces in Engels utilizing drones. The Russians study over a 100 cameras shot down over their territory. At the airport in the Sarat region, 700 km from the border with Ukraine, long-range bombers of Tu-95 and Tu-160 are stationed regular for raids on Ukrainian cities.

Illustration picture. The place where 1 of the Ukrainian drones fell. Russia, 11 March 2025.

According to available information, just before the Engels attack, 3 Tu-95 and 3 Tu-160 were based. The Ukrainians targeted the local ammunition depot, supplemented by another batch of Ch-101 maneuvering missiles on March 19. The facility was effectively infected – in the morning there was a immense smoke pole above the airport, residents of the surrounding towns wrote on social media about a large number of secondary explosions. The force of the first detonation was so powerful that the shock wave damaged buildings within a five-mile radius. A large fire outbreak besides registered a FIRMS satellite surveillance strategy owned by NASA.

The military and local authorities ordered the evacuation of the base and respective neighbouring villages. There are no credible reports of another harm so far. The explosions and fires may have at least damaged aircraft located at the airport.

RECLAMA

It was already another Ukrainian attack on Engels – the first 1 occurred in December 2022. At that time, drones sent from Ukraine besides hit the base in Diagilev (600 km from the border) where mid-range bombers of Tu-22M are stationed. The raid on Engels was repeated a fewer days later, besides utilizing unmanned aircraft. The consequence was a serious harm to 2 Tu-95s, 1 Tu-22M and the death of 5 pilots and mechanics. Faced with the hazard of re-butting, Russian command ordered the search of most Tu-95 and Tu-160 far north, under Murmansk. There are respective machines on site, essential to carry out current tasks.

Ukrainians hit Engels twice more – precisely a year ago and in April 2024, but without spectacular effects.

Tu-95 and Tu-160 aircraft are part of Russia's atomic triad (two another elements are submarines and ground launchers). They are so of Russian deterrence possible and are considered to be essential weapons. In the war against Ukraine, the Russians usage conventional ammunition to attack with bombers. Importantly, they do not execute classical bomb rally – coming over the mark and dropping bombs – but they attack from above their territory, firing far-reaching missiles and maneuvering missiles. They operate outside the scope of Ukrainian anti-aircraft defence, and are not threatened by Ukrainian manned aviation, besides fewer to operate over the Federation. The fight against the Tupolevs is so mainly indirect and boils down to shooting down rocket bombers.

Physical attempts to destruct bombers – through attacks on deep Russian facilities – are inactive exceptional situations. due to the consequences, they are very dangerous for Russians. The full Russian strategical aviation is about 80 machines (Tu-95 and Tu-160), this number should be doubled if we consider Tu-22M aircraft of this category. Half of this equipment is in flight, so any destroyed and damaged device (every permanently or for longer eliminated from the service pilot or navigator) is simply a serious blow to Russia's potential. Especially since Tu-95 has long been out of production, and their repair and modernisation capabilities stay limited. The situation with Tu-160, besides looks a bit better, a young construction whose production was resumed respective years ago, but to a very limited degree (one part per year).

Marcin Ogdowski
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