Russias Battle-Ready Bombers: Deputy Foreign Minister Confirms Repairs After Ukrainian Attack

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov has stated that Russian warplanes sustained damage but were not destroyed in Ukraine’s attack on June 1, and that efforts will be made to repair them.

Ukrainian drones targeted airfields in Siberia and the northern regions of Russia, where heavy bombers associated with its strategic nuclear forces are stationed.

According to two U.S. officials who spoke to Reuters, American assessments indicate that approximately 20 warplanes were impacted, with around 10 believed to be destroyed; this estimate is roughly half of what Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy suggested.

Ryabkov, who is responsible for arms control negotiations, informed the state-owned TASS news agency that, «The equipment discussed, as noted by the Ministry of Defense representatives, was damaged but not destroyed. Restoration will take place.»

It remains uncertain how quickly Russia can repair or replace the affected aircraft, considering the intricacies of the technology, the age of certain Soviet-era models, and the Western sanctions limiting access to essential components.

Commercial satellite images captured following the drone strike reveal what experts believe to be damaged Russian Tu-95 strategic bombers and Tu-22 Backfire long-range bombers utilized in missile assaults against Ukraine.

During a phone call on Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin conveyed to U.S. President Donald Trump that Moscow would need to react to the assaults, as Trump reported.

Estimates suggest that Russia possesses a fleet of 67 strategic bombers, which includes 52 Tu-95s, known as Bear-H by NATO, and 15 Tu-160s, referred to as Blackjacks, with around 58 deployed according to the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists.

Additionally, the Bulletin indicates that Russia has 289 non-strategic fighters and bombers, such as the Tu-22s, Su-24s, Su-34s, and MiG-31s. While details regarding which specific aircraft were damaged have not been disclosed, Russia stated that Ukraine targeted five airbases.

The Tu-95 and Tu-22 aircraft are remnants of the Soviet era, having been operational for many years. State industrial organization Rostec announced in 2024 that modernized and upgraded versions of the Tu-95 are currently in service, with no intentions of retiring the aircraft.

The latest iteration, the Tu-95MSM, began development and underwent its first test flight in 2020. Rostec indicated that this model represents a significant enhancement that would improve the aircraft’s efficiency and longevity.

The United Aircraft Corporation, a Rostec subsidiary responsible for manufacturing these aircraft, noted that the Tu-22M3 entered serial production in 1978 and was officially adopted into military service in 1989.

Rostec has yet to respond to a Reuters inquiry regarding specific challenges related to acquiring spare parts for the aircraft.