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Ukrainian Attack on Russian Long-Range Aviation bases
June began with severe Ukrainian UAV-strikes all over Russia. Indeed, with a sort of ‘big boom’: the ‘spectacular’ attack by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) on four bases of the Russian Long-Range Aviation (DA), plus a number of sabotages on the Russian railways – all tidily followed by yet another mass-strike by UAVs (out of Ukraine). With other words: a lot happened over the last 48 hours. Thus, lets start with the start.
In 2022, the DA entered this war with a total of following number of bomber airframes (following figures are based on literal ‘counting’ of aircraft visible on photographs from the last 10 years, during the work on the book War in Ukraine, Volume 6):
- 55 Tupolev Tu-22M-3 ‘medium’ bombers,
- 57 Tupolev Tu-95MS, and
- 16 Tupolev Tu-160 strategic bombers.
All of these are big aircraft, and all are old: their production ceased in the early 1990s (this is valid for Tu-160s, too, despite the Russian claims about resumption of their production). They are maintenance intensive (indeed, Tu-160s are ‘renowned’ for their chronical engine-related problems) and thus there was always the question of their actual availability. In military terminology, this is summarised with the number of ‘fully mission capable’ (FMC) aircraft: aircraft with all systems in operational condition. Not only their age, but also three years of the war in Ukraine are showing their effects: earlier Ukrainian UAV-strikes on the DA’s bases have knocked out at least 2-3 Tu-95s and several Tu-22M-3s.
Operation Spider Web
Indeed, the situation with Ukrainian UAV-strikes on DA’s bases became serious enough to force the Russians to move their Tu-95s and Tu-160s away from their primary base at Engels, and re-distribute them to more distant facilities. This further complicated their maintenance.
Correspondingly, as of early this year, the DA on average had less than 10 Tu-95MS’ and only 4-6 Tu-160s in FMC-condition. Similarly, only some 27 Tu-22M-3s were operational on average. The others would have taken anything between 24 and 168 hours to bring to that state. Rather unsurprisingly, in March this year two major Russian factories were contracted to overhaul six Tu-95MS’.
According to the Ukrainian accounts, the planning and execution of the Operation Spider Web began as much as 18 months ago. As first, the SBU had to smuggle the necessary 150 FPV drones to Russia. These were stored in several discrete storage facilities rented for that purpose. There, the Ukrainians rebuilt a number of commercial containers into ‘UAV-launchers’ looking like housing modules, as obvious from following photos:
At the desired point in time, containers were then loaded on randomly selected commercial trucks, and their (Russian) drivers ordered to drive to selected points near the air bases of Olenya, Ivanovo, Daghilevo, and Belaya. Once there, and per remote control (the Ukrainians used Russian telecommunication networks for this purpose), their tops were opened, the UAVs activated, and sent into attack. As far as is known, a total of 116 UAVs were actually launched.
Russian Long-Range Aviation bases taken by surprise by Ukrainian Attack
Their appearance is meanwhile certain to have taken the Russians completely by surprise: the air bases that came under attack were well-protected by electronic warfare- and air defence systems, but their crews expected UAV-strikes by big, ‘winged’, long-range UAVs by night. Not an attack by ‘FPVs’, and even less so ‘in the middle of the day’.
Unsurprisingly, the SBU claimed damage or destruction of 41 bombers, surveillance and transport aircraft, which it characterised as ‘34% of Russia’s bomber-fleet’, worth ‘US$7 billion’.
What can be concluded about ‘results’ of this operation?
Based on visual evidence provided so far (less than 24 hours since this operation was executed), only a small portion of claims for ‘41 aircraft destroyed and/or damaged’ can be confirmed.
Olenya AB
One report says that a truck arrived in Olenegorsk near Olenya air base. As FPVs flew out of his trailer the driver reported to the traffic police that he was told to drive there and that someone would meet him.
A video of what was probably the first strike on Olenya AB. Subsequent footage and then another where four Tu-95s and an AN-22 are seen burning (tyres were placed on the wings of planes in hope of disrupting drone-recognition of images, perhaps as a ‘last ditch’ method of defence, too). A fuel depot on the eastern side of Vysokii burns.
Smoke rises from the aftermath of the attack. Another quick look at the burning airfield. For comparison, here a 26 May satellite image (bottom).
Conclusion: 2 Tu-95MS’ were definitely destroyed, 1 ‘at least’ damaged. Additionally, a transport aircraft variously described as ‘An-12’ or ‘An-22’ was destroyed (if this was an An-22: this was the World’s largest turboprop-powered transport; 67 were manufactured, of which 60 remained in Russia after the dissolution of the Soviet Union; 5 were in storage; 6 written off in accidents, leaving only 4 in operational condition; reportedly, their operations ceased in late 2024).
Daghilevo AB (outside Ryazan)
A report that Ryazan air base was attacked and smoke of some kind was seen.
Ivanovo AB
There are reports that a single A-50 was hit at Ivanovo but no visual confirmation for this: merely ‘noise’ and ‘yet more noise’, and an image of smoke.
Conclusion: presently-available evidence is not enabling a confirmation of the claim that an A-50 was destroyed there.
Belaya AB
It is indisputable that drones for this attack were launched out of cargo trucks towards Belaya Airbase – over 4,000km far from Ukraine. Russians climbed on a truck to stop the drones from flying. The truck then exploded.
Satellite images from May 31 (top image). Drones speed towards the air base. An aerial view of some of the damage. The burning planes are seen from the highways.
Conclusion: presently available visual evidence is indicative of the destruction of 3 Tu-95MS and 3 Tu-22M-3s at Belaya AB. One, two, or even three additional Tu-95MS have been damaged.
Voskresensk AB
Individual fires can be seen in the distance at Voskresensk air base.
Ukrainka AB
There is a report that the Ukrainka air base in Amur (the Russian Far East) was targeted but, the truck with drones never reached it. The report said the truck started burning and a man entered the trailer when it exploded.
Donald Hill has contributed to this post.
Check out the blog Sarcastosaurus and Helion & Company website for books featuring interesting stories written by The Aviation Geek Club contributor Tom Cooper.
