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Russia’s bombers are nonetheless attacking Ukraine steadily regardless of Operation Spiderweb, the UK MOD mentioned.
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It noticed over 70 cruise missiles fired in July, saying it reveals the “resilience” of Russia’s fleet.
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Nonetheless, Ukrainian media beforehand reported that Russia is having to cram missiles on its bombers.
Russia’s long-range bombers are nonetheless assailing Ukraine at a gradual tempo regardless of June’s daring drone assault in opposition to the fleet, the UK’s protection ministry mentioned in a current evaluation.
In an intelligence replace on Wednesday, the British ministry wrote that it had noticed seven long-range assault packages launched in opposition to Ukraine in July, involving no less than 70 “premier munitions” — highly effective cruise missiles.
“Russian Lengthy Vary Aviation bombers have maintained their offensive tempo, persevering with to exhibit the resilience and retained functionality of the fleet following Ukraine’s Operation Spiderweb on June 1, 2025,” the ministry wrote.
The evaluation comes six weeks after Ukraine launched a shock drone assault on 4 airbases deep inside Russia that housed the Kremlin’s strategic bombers and early warning plane.
Utilizing first-person-view drones transported by way of truck, Ukraine broken what it mentioned was no less than a 3rd of Russia’s bomber fleet.
Dubbed Operation Spiderweb, the assault was hailed as one of many starkest examples of how uneven warfare can endanger high-level army belongings just like the $150 million Tu-95MS bomber. Ukrainian officers have mentioned that the assault inflicted $7 billion value of harm.
Earlier than the assault, Russia was believed to subject roughly 67 strategic bombers in its energetic stock, and movies launched by Ukraine present that no less than 9 of them had been closely broken in Operation Spiderweb. Ukraine reported that the assault broken or destroyed no less than 41 complete plane, however impartial analysts have mentioned it is tough to affirm that declare.
Aftermath of a drone strike reveals destroyed Tu-95 bombers on the tarmac at Belaya Airbase.Satellite tv for pc picture (c) 2025 Maxar Applied sciences by way of Getty Photos.
Crucially, these plane cannot be simply changed. Russia is believed to have ceased manufacturing of the Tu-95 and Tu-22M, and whereas it is nonetheless making the newer Tu-160, solely two have been reported manufactured within the final three years. Notably, long-range bombers are additionally one of many three key pillars of Russia’s nuclear triad.
Nonetheless, Russia has continued to bombard Ukraine after the June assault with a mixture of one-way assault drones and missiles.
Russia sometimes depends on its strategic bombers to fireside cruise missiles, mostly munitions from the Kh air-to-surface missile household.
After Operation Spiderweb, one in all Russia’s largest strategic bomber assaults unfolded on June 6, when Ukraine reported that Moscow launched no less than 36 Kh-101 cruise missiles in a single night time.
Ukrainian media, nonetheless, on the time cited unnamed sources saying that Russian forces needed to compensate for a diminished fleet through the assault by loading every bomber to full capability.
Both approach, Russia has continued utilizing its bomber fleet in high-profile assaults. On July 12, Ukraine’s air pressure reported one other wave of 26 Kh-101 cruise missiles fired into Ukrainian airspace.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned that in July alone, Russia had fired over 3,800 Shahed explosive drones and 260 missiles. Nevertheless, he didn’t specify which of the latter had been launched by strategic bombers.
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