Russia “scrambled all the strategic aviation it could,” even overloading Tu-95 bombers with cruise missiles. According to aviation expert Kostiantyn Kryvolap on Kyiv24, this approach risks accelerating the wear and tear on Russian aircraft, 24 Channel reports.
Russia continues its daily air attacks on residential areas in Ukraine. Earlier, the Kremlin had threatened retaliation for Ukraine’s 1 June strike on Russian aircraft. Its statements came after FPV drones destroyed or damaged 41 Russian bombers, including Tu-95, Tu-22M3, Tu-160, and an A-50 radar aircraft, around 34% of Russia’s entire strategic bomber fleet.
“These aircraft will soon be nearly gone,” he continues.
The aviation expert notes that Tu-160 bombers are still flying but aren’t being loaded with missiles for now, and there aren’t enough carriers for Kinzhal hypersonic missiles.
Therefore, another similar massive strike is unlikely in the near future.
On the night of 6 June, Russia launched over 450 aerial weapons, including 44 missiles and more than 400 Shahed drones. Ukrainian air defense shot down 406 of them, including 199 Shaheds, 30 Kh-101 missiles, 4 Iskander-M ballistic missiles, and 2 Iskander-K cruise missiles.
“They’ve done everything they could. This is their maximum capability,” Kryvolap emphasizes.
However, he warned that Shahed attacks will continue, becoming faster, lower, and more dangerous. Ukraine must rethink its air defense strategy against kamikaze drones, as new threats are already emerging.
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