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in reply to Hubi

Fookin' lovely!

SLAVA UKRAINI!

This entry was edited (4 days ago)
in reply to Hubi

Just read I the Norwegian news that two air bases in Murmansk (near the Norwegian border) were hit. If anything, this kind of strike hammers home how our support for Ukraine directly makes us safer as well.

These are planes that likely would have been used against Norway in the event of a war. Support for Ukraine is directly helping destroy equipment that otherwise could be used to attack us. We just need more people to understand this so we can get popular support for increasing our support a hundredfold.

in reply to thebestaquaman

This is such an intelligent take and well articulated. I'm in the UK and have colleagues that fear this action will lead us into WW3. Your rationale will help me challenge them.
in reply to Hubi

i will wait a week to then read the real number.
in reply to Goten

41 seems fairly specific to me in the article, but we should remember that hit does not mean destroyed
in reply to LaLuzDelSol

Yeah, if you set a bomb off on a plane that is most likely fuel laden, you're not going to be able to fly that plane again. If the air frame isn't completely destroyed, it's going to take months or years to repair, functionally rendering it destroyed.
in reply to AnalogNotDigital

Right my point is we don't know how many "targeted" planes were actually hit. Like does that mean they launched drones with the intention of hitting them? Does it mean Zelinsky pointed to a satellite image and said "try to get that plane on the airfield"? I hope they get as many as possible but I'm still a little skeptical of the 40 plane claim. Let's wait and see, satellite images will be able to prove it one way or another.
in reply to LaLuzDelSol

There's drone footage already out there showing the planes burning.
in reply to AnalogNotDigital

Yeah I've seen drone footage of 4-5 planes burning though, not 40. It would not be the first time Ukraine has made a big exaggerated claim.

Edit: "🇺🇦 Andriy Kovalenko, head of Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation, reports that at least 13 Russian aircraft were destroyed and additional aircraft damaged during Ukraine’s large-scale operation "Spiderweb" on June 1." Downvote me all you want. Source

This entry was edited (3 days ago)
in reply to LaLuzDelSol

All I'd say is that isn't an exaggerated claim. They said 41 targeted, any assumption about how many were hit is not coming from them.

Equally, the quote you have provided confirms just that they know of at least 13 destroyed.
It could be 41 were hit but only 13 destroyed.

This also implies:
1. they are still assessing the total impact and 2. arguably are doing exactly the opposite of what you stated by only counting known destruction and not exaggerating

in reply to NotJohnSmith

The headline in this post says 41 hit. That is the clarification I was trying to make.
in reply to Pogogunner

An aircraft hit by explosive is usually pretty much unairworthy, at least for some times.
in reply to martin4598

And I’m guessing Russia doesn’t have much of a supply of usable spare parts for all these aircraft.
in reply to IphtashuFitz

Some of these aircraft are leftovers from the USSR days and were built in Ukraine so there are no parts and no facilities in Russia to make them.

For the modern ones, Russia is having trouble getting the parts due to sanctions, even with all the help from China.

in reply to harrys_balzac

I'm a particular fan of Ukrainians destroying Ukrainian built war equipment in use by Russians. It's beautiful.
in reply to Hubi

Wow. Honestly kinda surprised they were that vulnerable. Doesn't Russia have any sort of CWIS systems to defend their ground based nuclear bombers and advanced radar command and control aircraft? Seems kinda important, don't you think?
in reply to Carrolade

I'm wondering if the man power drain is affecting them that much.
in reply to Carrolade

Pretty much all of their air defense seems to be stationed at the front and around their oil facilities.
in reply to Hubi

Blowing up an oil facility on at least a weekly basis for the past year will definitely do that. Like a boxer going for a hundred consecutive body shots then throwing a haymaker at the face.
in reply to Carrolade

They were expecting big slow drones that would take hours flying from Ukraine. Instead they got many small ones that took 18 months to arrive but were invisible until the last minute. A surprise zerg rush, when they were expecting and preparing against ultralisks.

(My analogies are very weak today)

in reply to f43r05

At like the 20 minute mark when all their bases are mined out and they can't rebuild
in reply to Jumi

And are desperately fighting the zerglings with drones.
in reply to doo

They seem to have gotten complacent because they can just move the planes if Ukraine sends long range drones.
in reply to MDCCCLV

Yes, it's a war of many firsts, especially about distance being a form of defence. Moskva was drowned like that too.
in reply to Hubi

this is a big one!

from telegram https://t.me/ButusovPlus/20244

For the first time in world history, the main strategic aviation force, the carrier of nuclear weapons, was defeated right at its bases by a group drone strike. The outstanding sabotage operation of the Security Service of Ukraine will go down in all military history books, as this defeat of Russia is one of the most costly in terms of consequences and losses, which seriously reduces the number of Russia's strategic nuclear forces.

At the moment, according to our sources, 41 strategic and military transport aircraft of the Russian Armed Forces have been hit at four bases. Some of the drones were attacked with auto-targeting, and the results of their strikes will be determined using satellite imagery.

A group of SBU agents smuggled 150 small attack drones and 300 rounds of ammunition into Russia.

116 drones took to the air.

The drones were controlled via Russian telecommunication networks, using automated guidance.

Several mobile take-off points on Russian territory were located near Russian strategic aviation bases.

The drones were attacked from a short distance during the day in the enemy's deep rear. The air bases were covered by significant air defence forces - anti-aircraft missile systems, electronic warfare systems, and patrols with small arms. But the Russians expected nighttime attacks by heavy, large attack drones, which are clearly visible in the air, and did not expect an attack by small quadcopters during the day.

The attack on the Olenya strategic missile base of Tu-95s was particularly successful, as the drones accurately hit the filled fuel tanks and a significant number of the aircraft burned to ashes.

An operation of this scale and with such a huge economic and military effect, at such a high technological level, has no analogues in the world.

It is very important that the SBU agents have successfully returned to Ukraine. Ukraine did not suffer any losses.

Results:
- Military equipment worth billions of dollars was destroyed;

  • strategic aircraft, which Russia does not produce, were destroyed.
  • Weakened enemy strike capabilities, as these aircraft were an important component of constant terrorist attacks on Ukrainian cities.
  • The enemy will have to spend a lot of money to strengthen the defence of its bases and facilities.

Yes, such achievements should be recognised with the highest state award. Is it possible to award a second Hero of Ukraine to SSU leaders? Because the results are worth it.

The heroes who directly performed such a historic task and returned with victory certainly deserve the highest title.

Translated with DeepL (deepl.com/app/)

in reply to ikt

It is very important that the SBU agents have successfully returned to Ukraine. Ukraine did not suffer any losses.


The fact the russian side of the border is that porous is really interesting .

in reply to 7empest

Russias border is fucking huge. These guys could have fake passports, so fly something like... idk, Moscow to Ankara, then from there back to Ukraine.

They could have boarded flights hours after doing this attack. That's just an insane level of operational ballsiness.

in reply to ikt

This is the best fucking thing I've heard in months
in reply to boreengreen

Most of these cannot be replaced. They were already short on parts beforehand.
in reply to Hubi

So what is the expected monetary-equivalent loss taken?
in reply to boreengreen

Well, the A-50 and the TU-22 M3 mentioned in the article cost around 300-400 million USD each but it's not known yet how many of each type have been damaged and to what extent. Inflicting monetary damage is not as much of a priority compared to crippling Russia's ability to continue their air assaults.
in reply to boreengreen

Literally irreplaceable as Russia can't build these planes anymore.

The dollar value is easily in the billions.

in reply to Hubi

The drones were controlled via Russian telecommunication networks


*chef's kiss*

in reply to Optional

Russian drivers and Russian networks

Seems like a case of "Stop hitting yourself!"

in reply to Hubi

They should shut down all telecommunications networks and stop all truck traffic. Just in case.
in reply to Hubi

Very roughly speaking, how many comparable aircraft does Russia own, just so I can understand the extent of this attack? Sounds great either way.
in reply to Bonifratz

I was seeing from other online spaces that this would be about 30% of Russias strategic bomber fleet and it's accompanying aircraft like their AWACs that got hit.

If that's the case that's a staggeringly bad day for the Russian air force, which means it's a good fucking day.

in reply to Bonifratz

30% less bombers means drone and missile attacks into Ukraine can be significantly decreased that's one of the biggest developments since the start of the war.
in reply to AnalogNotDigital

I was interested in this - can you share where this figure came from / how calculated?

Ukraine reshared this.

in reply to abeorch

They have roughly 120 strategic bombers in their air force. 40 of those is 33%.
in reply to AnalogNotDigital

Ah I found BBC, Reuters and AP quoting the Ukranian SBU " SBU officially confirmed it had carried out the strikes, saying that "34% of [Russia's] strategic cruise missile carriers" were hit" - bbc.com/news/articles/c1ld7ppr… - and that " Tu-95 and Tu-22M3, as well as A-50 were destroyed" - Claims not yet independently verified. - It sounds like a massive hit but I have a feeling that we might see independent claims downgrading the figure a bit. The "strategic cruise missile carriers" is also a bit of qualifier. I would assume that there are independent estimates of what usable air power Russia has. I'm not seeing those chime in yet.

Ukraine reshared this.

in reply to abeorch

I think the "strategic cruise missile carriers" bit is just a bad translation, it's clear in ukranian he means "we blew up aircraft capable of launching cruise missiles" and then is discussing the specific aircraft destroyed as separate figures.
in reply to AnalogNotDigital

For what I thought I knew, they only had 3 (some say they had only one but I doubt it) airworthy AWACS (the A50) so losing one makes it impossible to patrool & cover even the most important parts of russia.
in reply to Valmond

Exactly. This is a massive strike that we fully won't know the repercussions of for a little bit. We'll just have to see how their optempo changes. It honestly could be even worse for them. They have 120 of those bombers, period. Meaning some of them might not even be air worthy at all and are just spare parts.
in reply to AnalogNotDigital

I feel like the AWACs is a way bigger loss than all those obsolete bombers.
in reply to supersquirrel

Those bombers have been wantonly dropping cruise missiles of to hit Ukraine. Both are significant.
in reply to AnalogNotDigital

Yeah, because powerful countries for better or worse did not decisively intercede to destroy them.
in reply to supersquirrel

Oh cmon dude. There are actual reasons that the west escalated their aid over a time.

It's not a reason I agree with, but their logic in doing so is also entirely justifiable.

in reply to Bonifratz

I just watched a couple of videos on this attack and one thing that stood out is the AWACS - Russia has 5, but only one airworthy one and Ukraine hit that one.

Basically, the Russian AF is blind outside of its bases. It's going to make it much more difficult for Russia to operate outside its borders.

One report I saw says they even hit a base near the northern border with Finland. A Russian sub has possibly been promoted to artificial reef.

Combine this attack with the two bridge collapses and the attack on Vladivostok, and Russia should be worried. Ukraine and their domestic insurgency can hit pretty much anywhere.

in reply to Hubi

Getting fucking rekt, Russia. Sabotage is king
This entry was edited (4 days ago)
in reply to Hubi

Fuckin well done lads, keep up the good work. At this rate they won’t even have enough planes to stock the carrier they can’t sail anywhere

Slava Ukraini

in reply to FordBeeblebrox

That's misinformation, they can sail the carrier wherever they want.

Provided the use enough tugboats.

in reply to Tja

With long ropes, gotta reach all the way down to the bottom.
in reply to Tja

The one ship Ukraine should consider not sinking. It may cost Russia more by leaving it afloat.
in reply to Tja

The lols would be worth it as Russia has always wanted to pretend it's a naval super power.
in reply to Korhaka

As long as there are no fishing ships around. Or Japanese torpedo boats.
in reply to Hubi

Nice job, folks! Would suck to be whichever yes-man had to inform Pootie about the $7 billion in aircraft they lost in one night, a third of their ability to deliver cruise missiles.
This entry was edited (3 days ago)
in reply to Hubi

Maybe you should stop shooting cruise missiles on Ukraine. What a fucking incredible feat!

Slava Ukraine!

in reply to Hubi

The tankie triad is going to have an extra chip on their shoulders these upcoming days.
in reply to Hubi

Hopefully this doesn't inspire the Kremlin to do something particularly stupid at the cost of world peace again.
in reply to scathliath

Their nuclear arsenal is not in fighting shape. I’d be surprised if any of the warheads are functional.
in reply to Cocopanda

Agreed, but I digress, they could still manage to surprise us by having anything, but given the Ukrainians are wise enough not to bunch up their infantry, the effectiveness of such a bomb if they have one at all is limited.
in reply to scathliath

I’m sure there’s like 12 warheads kept in prestige shape and that’s stretching it. No way they have kept up the necessary upkeep.
in reply to Cocopanda

The thought of some poor Ivan playing nuclear chicken with a warhead core from the 80's almost makes it all worth it.
in reply to Hubi

The best part about this? They didn’t tell the US about this because they know they are leaking info to the Russians. Pathetic.