Russia will take years to replace nuclear-capable bomber planes that were hit in Ukrainian drone strikes last weekend, according to Western military aviation experts, straining a modernisation programme that is already delayed.

Satellite photos of airfields in Siberia and Russia’s far north show extensive damage from the attacks, with several aircraft completely burnt out, although there are conflicting versions of the total number destroyed or damaged.

The United States assesses that up to 20 warplanes were hit - around half the number estimated by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy - and around 10 were destroyed, two U.S. officials told Reuters.

  • lennybird@lemmy.world
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    2 days ago

    Wouldn’t it be funny if all these various nations just did a reverse uno and like 20 different nations started invading Russia and slicing it up for territorial gain?

    Russia is so weak right now.

    • ssillyssadass@lemmy.world
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      1 day ago

      My dream is a united EU assault on Moscow to dethrone Putin and the Oligarchs and, hopefully, return the nation to a less corrupt state.

      • barneypiccolo@lemm.ee
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        1 day ago

        At this point, it could easily be done, except that Putin would nuke Europe (and probably everybody else) before going down. That is literally the ONLY reason it hasn’t been done.

          • Maalus@lemmy.world
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            1 day ago

            You said “my dream is”. So if dreams are comming true, I’m not dreaming of an assault on Russia, I’m dreaming of an end to all wars and sufferring.

          • Maalus@lemmy.world
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            1 day ago

            Reality is there won’t be a unified assault on Moscow either, unless they do something really stupid. And they have done plenty of stupid things already and that hasn’t made anyone do much. People haven’t learned and are trying to appease all over again.

    • NeptuneOrbit@lemmy.world
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      1 day ago

      If I learned anything playing Risk, is that you are fucked if you are in the lead… And especially fucked if you go on an offensive.

      • ssillyssadass@lemmy.world
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        1 day ago

        Yes, with all those old soviet nukes that sre surely still around and not rusting away in old bunkers. I’m sure they fly just fine.

        • barneypiccolo@lemm.ee
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          1 day ago

          If only a handful deploy successfully, it’s a major problem.

          I do hope a few blow up in the silos, and render vast swathes of Russia uninhabitable for centuries.

            • barneypiccolo@lemm.ee
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              1 day ago

              Hopefully, but not guaranteed. The rockets aren’t all coming out of silos in Russian territory. A launch from a sub off a coastal target like DC, NYC, LA, SF, etc. might reach its target long before a missile defense weapon could target the threat.

            • someguy3@lemmy.world
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              1 day ago

              Meant as you only need a few to get through. You seriously gonna tempt fate relying on a missile defence system? Only tens of millions dead on the line. Bunch of 14 year old very badasses on this site.