A flagship Russian long-range bomber has been destroyed in a Ukrainian drone strike, according to reports.
Images posted on social media and analysed by BBC Verify show a Tupolev Tu-22 on fire at Soltsy-2 airbase, south of St Petersburg.
The interesting thing here is that this bomber was not destroyed near Ukraine, but rather at a base most of the way to St. Petersburg. I would have guessed that that would be some of the best-defended airspace in Russia. A drone getting through to there implies some interesting things about the distribution of Russian air defense systems.
To me it suggests that Ukrainian aligned fighters are operating inside of Russia.
I don’t doubt the level of air defense Russia have in place near the border, but partisans in-country would sidestep them entirely.
Their air defense is spread incredibly thin between Moscow, all the bridges, the supply depos, and all the air force bases. They don’t have enough, so they’ll keep losing massive amounts of material.
what air defense doing
Most of the air defense has been sent to Moscow. Even then, they struggle with drones.
A drone getting through to there implies some interesting things about the distribution of Russian air defense systems.
They don’t have any? It’s all been sold off to oligarchs who took the money and run?
2k drone + explosives vs a hundred million plane. Great ratio.
How to lose strategic assets during a border conflict… what a bunch of losers. Slava Ukraini
Slava Ukraini
To be exact, isn’t this really a Tupolev Tu-22M?
Wouldn’t the faster, larger, newer and more expensive Tu-165 be the flagship?
