Russia’s prized nuclear bombers were decimated by Ukrainian drones, triggering a wave of denials, relocations, and geopolitical embarrassment.
At a Glance
- Satellite imagery contradicts Ukrainian reports of Russian bombers relocated near Alaska
- Ukraine’s Operation Spiderweb destroyed or disabled 41 Russian warplanes in one night
- Estimated $7 billion in bomber losses undermines Russia’s strategic air power
- New START Treaty rules limit Russia’s ability to conceal bomber deployments
- Kremlin launches retaliatory strikes amid growing concerns over airbase vulnerability
Strategic Shell Game
Russia’s reaction to Ukraine’s drone blitz has sparked a confusing saga of bomber shell games and geopolitical theater. Following claims by Ukrainian defense media that nuclear-capable Tu-160 bombers had been quietly shifted to Anadyr, just across the Bering Strait from Alaska, Western analysts quickly debunked the claim. Satellite images from both May 26 and June 3 showed no such aircraft at the airfield.
This misinformation swirl followed Ukraine’s stunning success on June 1 with Operation Spiderweb. Using long-range drones launched in synchronized waves, Ukraine crippled 41 aircraft, including multiple Tu-95 and Tu-22 strategic bombers, across bases in Siberia, the Arctic, and central Russia. It was not just a military feat—it was a global PR disaster for the Kremlin.
Watch a report: Russia’s Airbase Losses Exposed.
The drone strikes punctured the myth of Russia’s layered air defenses. Despite boasting state-of-the-art anti-air systems, Moscow’s top airbases failed to stop what are, by comparison, low-tech drone assaults. Experts suggest the attack highlighted severe gaps in Russia’s defense readiness, corruption within its armed forces, and complacency built on Cold War-era assumptions.
Damage Control Mode
The magnitude of the blow—estimated at $7 billion—has forced Russia into visible damage control. Satellite images confirmed destroyed hangars and scorched airframes, including at Dyagilevo and Engels, two of Russia’s most vital strategic hubs. In response, military advisors like Frank Ledwidge described the abrupt aircraft repositioning as a “sensible approach”—code for panic-induced scrambling.
The complication? Under the New START Treaty, strategic bombers must remain visible and stationed at declared locations, limiting Russia’s ability to hide them. That treaty—designed to ensure transparency between nuclear powers—is now a thorn in Moscow’s side as Ukraine’s reach extends farther into Russian airspace.
President Putin has privately conveyed “very strong” intentions to retaliate, according to former U.S. President Donald Trump. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky mocked the failures, noting that one airstrike occurred just steps from an FSB headquarters. The psychological toll is mounting—Russian aircrews now reportedly sleep with their uniforms on, fearing sudden overnight strikes.
End of an Era?
Russia’s air retaliation, including more than 400 drone and missile launches, underscores a desperate effort to reassert dominance. But many see it as reactionary and symbolic rather than strategic. Retired Air Marshal Greg Bagwell predicts a shift to constant aircraft rotation—a tactic to minimize exposure, but one that strains logistics and effectiveness.
In practical terms, Ukraine has shattered the illusion that Russian air bases are untouchable. The deeper implications are political as much as military: the once-fearsome bomber fleet now appears vulnerable, dated, and inadequately defended. As this war grinds on, the Kremlin’s most iconic instruments of deterrence may become the most costly casualties of its miscalculation.
