The raid to the targets of Russia was a direct blow to the aviation resources, including the Tu-160, Tu-95 and Tu-22 m3 bombers, considered less at risk than land and sea forces.
Western experts continue to estimate the effects of the raid, but as the agency donated one of the high -ranking officials, the destruction was “significant”. Moscow mentioned the destruction of “several” machines, Kiev with a hit of 40 bombers, and the Promoskie military blogger Rybar estimated that 13 aircraft suffered.
The attack, widely commented on in Russian social media, successfully raised morale in Ukraine, said the European diplomat.
Douglas Barrie, a military aviation specialist at the International Institute of Strategic Studies in London, assessed that even a small defect in the fleet of strategic bombers would cause a load for other models modified for carrying maneuvering missiles. This fleet is the smallest element of the so -called Russia's nuclear triads, which consist of ground launchers, submarines and long -range bombers.
Putin is no longer indestructible? Bloomberg about the Ukrainian attack
According to people close to the Kremlin and the Ministry of Defense The operation did not significantly reduce Russia's nuclear potential. According to Dmitry Stefanowicz from the International Security Center at the Moscow Institute of International Relations, the attack will slightly affect nuclear forces, in which intercontinental ballistic missiles and submarines play a greater role.
However, the mere fact of an accurate strike in the base was also a blow to the Russian ability to repel, undermining Putin's image as indestructible The agency assessed. Thomas Withington, an air defense specialist at the British Royal United Services Institute, noted that Ukrainian forces revealed “Inability to Russian air defense to protect key strategic resources such as bombers' bases.”
The sanctions imposed on Russia will make it difficult to acquire parts and technologies necessary to repair damaged equipment, noticed Bloomberg, adding that every restriction of Russian aviation resources is good news for European governments. “By excluding strategic bombers from the fight, Ukraine has helped reduce the threat in this respect to NATO and its allies,” said Withington.
