Multiple Russian Tu-95 bombers burning a massive Ukrainian FPV drone strike

[putnam6]

Airbus has produced satellite photos showing three Tu-95MS completely destroyed, along with one Tu-22M3, and an An-12 destroyed. Three more Tu-22M3s may be destroyed, along with one Tu-95MS and two A-50s damaged.

Significant, depending on what their flight readiness was...

But not game-changing...

Look at my first post in the thread. I was semi-excited, hoping for something significant to move the needle.

[Zaphod58]

Significant, depending on what their flight readiness was...

But not game-changing...

Look at my first post in the thread. I was semi-excited, hoping for something significant to move the needle.

There are possibly more destroyed, and the damage to the others is unknown. Those are just airframes that were obvious. The destroyed airframes burned to the ground and were completely destroyed. I’m sure more details will come out in the next few weeks.

[Oldcarpy2]

Significant, depending on what their flight readiness was...

But not game-changing...

Look at my first post in the thread. I was semi-excited, hoping for something significant to move the needle.

The MS seems to be the latest upgraded version, slated to remain in service til 2040:

https://www.airplaneupdate.com/2019/10/t...-95ms.html

"The price of the latest Tupolev Tu-95MS Bear-H Bombers is around US $ 26.28 Million".

Significant, then.

[putnam6]

3 plus years in, this isn't Ukraine's Pearl Harbor or its Tet Offensive, its imagined significance feels overblown because of the lack of other significant Ukrainian offensive moves.

much more on the scale of Doolittle's bombing raid from Shangri-La, a one-time symbolic morale-boosting event unless the Russian defensive vulnerabilities exposed are exploited again and again.  

As it is its more embarrassing than an earth-shaking crippling attack, likely extending the war 2-3 more years. It will be about that long before Russia sits down for real peace talks again.

 

Conclusion: Russian aircraft losses from the June 1, 2025, drone strikes are still being clarified, with estimates ranging from at least 13 confirmed destroyed (per Ukrainian officials) to higher claims of 41 hit (per initial SBU reports). The numbers are subject to change as more imagery, drone footage, and official statements emerge. The strategic impact is debated—while a blow to Russia’s aging bomber fleet, the loss of a fraction of its 90 or so Tu-95s, Tu-22s, and Tu-160s may not alter the war’s course dramatically, though it exposes vulnerabilities. Data remains inconclusive without comprehensive, independent confirmation.




NOELREPORTS

@NOELreports

6h


MFA Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated that Ukraine has made considerable efforts to derail the next round of Istanbul negotiations, using what she called its “typical terrorist methods.” She accused Ukraine of maintaining an aggressive stance toward Russia and avoiding pragmatic solutions. But, according to her, both sides are currently reviewing each other's memoranda, and the process of transferring 6,000 bodies will start soon.

[Zaphod58]

OSINT analysis currently puts the total at seven Tu-95MS, four Tu-22M3s, and one An-12 destroyed, with two A-50s damaged. At least twelve Tu-22s were hit, and video shows a drone landing on the radar of an A-50U before exploding. There were 117 drones used in the attack, and they targeted wind roots, fuel tanks, and external weapons. The Tu-95s were armed with Kh-101s, which are normally loaded shortly before a strike.

[SomeStupidName]

I think the A-50U's were parts planes they were missing engines. Still good hits.

[putnam6]

OSINT analysis currently puts the total at seven Tu-95MS, four Tu-22M3s, and one An-12 destroyed, with two A-50s damaged. At least twelve Tu-22s were hit, and video shows a drone landing on the radar of an A-50U before exploding. There were 117 drones used in the attack, and they targeted wind roots, fuel tanks, and external weapons. The Tu-95s were armed with Kh-101s, which are normally loaded shortly before a strike.

So they did stop an imminent strike, so they got incredibly lucky, or they had actionable intelligence from whom?

Spies on the ground or eyes in the skies



What worries me is how Ukrainian drone warfare is revolutionizing guerrilla-style war and what future terrorist groups adopt in terms of tactics.

[Zaphod58]

So they did stop an imminent strike, so they got incredibly lucky, or they had actionable intelligence from whom?

Spies on the ground or eyes in the skies

Most likely HUMINT sources on the ground if I had to guess.

[sahgwa]

So they did stop an imminent strike, so they got incredibly lucky, or they had actionable intelligence from whom?

Spies on the ground or eyes in the skies



What worries me is how Ukrainian drone warfare is revolutionizing guerrilla-style war and what future terrorist groups adopt in terms of tactics.

Disgusted and conspiracy leaning minds who were hoping this BS would have ended by now, view the ongoing push as nothing less than money-grubbing by the MIC but even more so, as the perfect testing ground for said 'new forms ' of drone warfare and defences against such. 
It's also 'tangentially' perfectly timed to tie into AI systems training in war.   Why stop now?
asshols.

[putnam6]

Most likely HUMINT sources on the ground if I had to guess.

Just read where they found more explosives at one of the bridge explosions, so there are Ukrainian military forces active in Russia? or ballsy AF Ukranian partisan resistance.