Ukraine has reportedly struck and severely damaged a Russian Tu-95MS nuclear-capable bomber at the Engels-2 airbase in Russia's Saratov region. The incident, confirmed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, marks the second time in six weeks that a Tu-95MS aircraft has been targeted at this base. Satellite imagery indicates the aircraft sustained significant damage to its right wing.
These Tu-95MS bombers, often referred to as 'Bear' by NATO, are a key component of Russia's nuclear strike force and are regularly used to launch conventional missiles into Ukraine. The aircraft, a Soviet-era design that first flew approximately 70 years ago, remains in service as the world's only propeller-driven strategic bomber. As production has ceased, repairs to damaged aircraft present a significant challenge.
Zelensky stated that the strike was a direct response to Russian attacks on Ukraine. "In Engels, Russia, the Alpha unit of the SBU [security service] struck a Tu-95MS missile carrier," he said. "It is these aircraft that carry out attacks on Ukraine. Thank you for your accuracy to all our soldiers - this is all a response to their attacks. The Russians must feel what their war is like."
In addition to the bomber damage, the strikes also reportedly ignited a major oil refinery in Russia's Yaroslavl region. This follows previous reports of Tu-95MS planes sustaining damage during an operation last year known as Operation Spiderweb, where drones were released from trucks near Russian airfields.
Meanwhile, Russia continued its barrage of attacks on Ukraine. On Friday, Russia launched waves of drones at Kyiv and its surrounding region, damaging warehouses and homes. Ukrainian officials reported that at least one person was killed outside Kyiv, with 14 warehouse premises, 16 homes, and three apartment buildings damaged. The state emergency service stated that the Kyiv region had been attacked 38 times in the preceding 24 hours. Ukraine's Centre for Countering Disinformation, a branch of the National Security Council, indicated that Russia was using small numbers of jet-powered unmanned aerial vehicles in waves with the aim of paralyzing Kyiv, seeking to wear down air defenses and the population.
These strikes on Friday also targeted logistics infrastructure, with Ukraine's top private courier, Nova Poshta, reporting that sorting centers near Kyiv and in the northern city of Sumy were destroyed. In Zaporizhzhia, a Russian drone struck a major home-improvement store, wounding at least four people. Kharkiv also experienced a Russian attack on a shopping center. These recent escalations suggest a strategy by both sides to disrupt each other's economies and war efforts through targeted strikes on consumer logistics and retail.