Russia has assured that warplanes damaged in a recent drone attack by Ukraine will be repaired and restored, contradicting US estimates that up to 20 planes were destroyed. According to Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, the equipment was not destroyed but damaged, and it will be restored.
The attack on June 1 targeted airfields in Siberia and the far north where Russia’s heavy bombers are stationed. The US assesses that around 10 warplanes were destroyed, which is about half of the estimated number by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
Commercial satellite imagery shows damaged Russian Tu-95 strategic bombers and Tu-22 Backfire long-range bombers. The Russian President Vladimir Putin has vowed to respond to the attacks, while Russia’s military boasts an estimated fleet of 67 strategic bombers.
The repaired warplanes are expected to be restored after addressing the challenges posed by modern technologies, aging Soviet-era planes, and Western sanctions on sensitive components.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/russia-says-it-will-repair-bombers-damaged-by-ukraines-drones-2025-06-05