Ukraine has officially confirmed the use of Tu-141 drones to target Tu-95MS and Tu-22M3 nuclear bombers on Russian territory

Late last year, the Engels and Dyagilevo military airfields in russia were attacked. Many months later, Ukraine officially confirmed the use of Soviet UAVs.

Here's What We Know

After the strike on the airfields, information about the use of Soviet Tu-141 "Strizh" UAVs immediately appeared. This has now been officially confirmed by the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine.

Given the lack of means of defeat that would allow destroying Russian bombers in the air, Ukraine is looking for other ways to eliminate threats. One of them is strikes on military bases on russian territory where the planes are based.

At Engels airfield in the Saratov region, two Tu-95MS nuclear bombers were seriously damaged. They are usually used to launch strategic cruise missiles Kh-101, Kh-555 and Kh-55 from the Caspian Sea area.

At the airfield of Dyagilevo in the Ryazan region, one Tu-95MS was damaged. Together with him hit the strategic bomber Tu-22M3, which is mainly used to launch anti-ship missiles Kh-22M3. Recently, at least one such aircraft was destroyed by kamikaze drones in the Novgorod region.

As for the Tu-141 - it is originally a reconnaissance-level unmanned aircraft. It can climb to an altitude of up to 6 kilometres and reach a speed of more than 1100 km/h. The drone is equipped with a TRD KR-17A engine, has a gross weight of almost 5.5 tonnes and a range of 1,000 km.

Source: Main Directorate of Intelligence