Russia faces struggle to replace bombers lost in Ukrainian drone strikes

Russia will take years to replace nuclear-capable bomber planes that were hit in Ukrainian drone strikes last weekend, according to Western military aviation experts, straining a modernisation programme that is already delayed.

Satellite photos of airfields in Siberia and Russia's far north show extensive damage from the attacks, with several aircraft completely burnt out, although there are conflicting versions of the total number destroyed or damaged.

The United States assesses that up to 20 warplanes were hit - around half the number estimated by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy - and around 10 were destroyed, two U.S. officials told Reuters.

Ukraine @europe.pub

Russia faces struggle to replace bombers lost in Ukrainian drone strikes

www.reuters.com /business/aerospace-defense/russia-faces-struggle-replace-bombers-lost-ukrainian-drone-strikes-2025-06-06/

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I don't think you understand just how large thing a country's entire military strategy is. You don't just up and change it like getting a new patch on your favourite game.
There's infra built literally almost a century ago for these very purposes, the entire reserve would need to be retrained basically.
That's how we've been able to keep Russia from attacking us since the previous bout; by being extremely prepared to defend against an attack.
Also, surely you're aware that wars of aggression are banned in international law? We can't just attack Russia with thr combined might of EU armies, as it stands rn.
That's why we need to get Ukraine to the EU, so that then it's not a war of aggression, but honoring the mutual defense clause.
That's also why Russia is pulling off their sabotage like cutting cables and jamming GPS, etc. Because as long as it's not a direct military attack, EU cannot respond with military force.
Oh and, in which country's military forces would you be participating in this attack fantasy?
- Ukraine soldiers are trained for 3 months. There can't be much infrastructure needed for an attack since the battle is on enemy territory when it starts.
  Also, surely you’re aware that wars of aggression are banned in international law?
  Iraq, Libya and others. At worst we call it a special military operation in support of Ukraine.
  That’s why we need to get Ukraine to the EU, so that then it’s not a war of aggression, but honoring the mutual defense clause.
  I guess there is no need to wait for EU membership to help a country in need.
  Oh and, in which country’s military forces would you be participating in this attack fantasy?
  None. After these comments at most they will use me for medical support.
  
  Ukraine soldiers are trained for 3 months. There can't be much infrastructure needed for an attack since the battle is on enemy territory when it starts.
  Dude. Stop. You don't know what you're talking about, and every addition is making it more cringe.
  I have the training to train basic jaegers in two weeks. Those are the simple infantry for the front. More specialised soldiers, like NCO's, especially specialist NCO's like me, take far longer to train. You know in strategy games it takes longer and costs more to churn our specialised soldiers?
  Imagine that you have a league of legends/starcraft/CIV game going and at more than halfway through you decide to just sell all your units and pivot entirely? How would that ever make sense in any game, if not as some weird YouTube challenge? No actual pro-player would ever try something as silly.
  That's a rhetorical example that I hope will convey some of what I'm trying to communicate, since you don't seem to understand how complex military strategy on a national level is. It's not like a sentence or two. It's systems upon systems relying on other systems which are regulated by resources or practical necessities, leaning on other things which are dictated by something else entirely etc etc.
  Iraq, Libya and others. At worst we call it a special military operation in support of Ukraine.
  So you're genuinely advocating breaking international law? You don't actually care about morals? That's... off-putting, to say the least.
  "After these comments..."
  Was it you who commented earlier in the thread about something something "fantasy, not reality"? Because you live in some weird warmongering fantasy war fetish laa-laa land. There's no fucking NSA looking at what people have been writing if you're conscripted to be infantry. You're taught how to march, then how to obey, then given a gun, taught how to shoot it, then how to shoot it while moving forward, then taught how to move forwards while shooting it under enemy fire, then how to move while shooting while under enemy fire and communicating with your group (or listening to your group leader/fighting pair).
  So, which country is it then? Because you're saying "we will attack..." but see if there was an offensive from Europe to Russia, it's highly likely I would be fighting, but I suspect you wouldn't.
  So perhaps stop it with the childish warmongering.
  Edit and yes, there is a need to wait for Ukraine EU membership, which there's attempts to rush through, but international politics don't work as willy-nilly as online forums. You can't pretend to ignore global geopolitics.
  
  Kudos on your mental fortitude. The level is stupidity that guy is showing nearly broke me.
  
  Thanks.
  I've had training. And I'm not talking about my military training, but the several years I spent in customer service.
  
  So you’re genuinely advocating breaking international law?
  No, I just believe that the EU will break the law and attack, like members already did in Libya and Iraq.
  I can also say that I was not the one talking about fantasies.
  Edit and yes, there is a need to wait for Ukraine EU membership
  Is there a reason for that? UN article 51 seems to allow support of other countries if they are attacked.
  
  To compare Libya and Iraq to an all out attack on Russia by some imagine combined European pan-national military is just... ugh, too naive for me to even be care about writing a breakdown for.
  Enjoy your weekend
  
  For those attacks the size doesn't matter but the willingness of breaking the law. My size argument is that the USA and China will clash. Europe will engage Russia when that happens.
  Thank you for your insightful feedback. Have a great WE, too.

89 comments