Strikes on Russian airfields have led to a situation where Russia has gathered almost a third of its combat-ready bombers at the Olenya airfield in the Murmansk Region.
This is reported by Defense Express.
Satellite images of the Olenya airfield in the Murmansk Region have appeared on the Internet. As of May 15, there were seen:
- 12 Tu-95MS strategic bombers,
- 13 Tu-22M3 strategic bombers,
- 1 Tu-160,
- 2 An-12 military transport aircraft.
In addition, the presence of An-12 military transport aircraft is also mentioned. Most likely, they were performing flights to accumulate cruise missiles at the Olenya airfield.
Defence Express notes that such an accumulation of aircraft should be given special attention, as Olenya is one of the main airbases for the Russian Aerospace Forces during massive missile strikes on the territory of Ukraine.
The publication, referring to the estimates of the UK Ministry of Defense and the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, indicates that there are approximately 40 Tu-95MS and Tu-22M3 bombers left in the Russian arsenal. Thus, satellite images show that Russia has gathered in one place about a third of the total number of combat-ready bombers of this type.
The importance of the Olenya airfield as a key base for the Russians is also confirmed by the fact that at the end of April, only 6 Tu-22M3s were stationed at the Mozdok airfield.
As a result, it can be stated that the deployment of almost a third of the combat-ready fleet of Tu-95MS and Tu-22M3 bombers may indicate not only the preparation of Russian attacks on critical infrastructure, but also the occupiers' intention to protect the rest of their air fleet from potential Ukrainian strikes.
Earlier, we reported that Ukrainian Armed Forces shot down two Russian aircraft and a helicopter.