**Russia’s Damaged Bombers Will Be Restored, Claims Deputy Foreign Minister**
In a statement made on June 5, Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov announced that the country’s damaged bombers will be restored. This comes after Ukraine launched a daring drone attack on four key Russian military airfields as part of its Operation Spiderweb.
According to Ryabkov, the planes were not completely destroyed in the attack and can be repaired. “The equipment in question, as was also stated by representatives of the Ministry of Defence, was not destroyed but damaged,” he said. “It will be restored.”
**Ukraine’s Daring Drone Attack**
On June 1, Ukraine launched a massive drone attack on four key Russian military airfields, damaging 41 planes, including heavy bombers and rare A-50 spy planes. The operation, which took 18 months to plan, was overseen directly by President Volodymyr Zelensky and carried out by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU).
The SBU claimed that 117 drones were launched from concealed trucks positioned across Russian territory, simultaneously striking airfields in at least four regions. Two U.S. officials told Reuters that Ukraine struck as many as 20 Russian military aircraft during Operation Spiderweb, destroying around 10 of them.
**Independent Confirmation**
Independent confirmation of the damage caused is limited to satellite images of Belaya air base, which appear to confirm the destruction of at least three Tu-95MS strategic bombers and one Tu-22M3 aircraft. Another image shows two more likely destroyed Tu-22M3 bombers on the field.
**Repairing Damaged Aircraft**
Ryabkov did not specify a timeline for repairing the damaged aircraft. Russia would likely face challenges due to supply-chain difficulties brought about by economic sanctions, as well as the complexities of Soviet-era technology present in the aircraft.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said on June 4 that roughly half of the planes damaged will be impossible to repair, while others will require significant time to be put back into service. This raises questions about Russia’s ability to restore its military capabilities after the devastating drone attack.
**Russian Response**
During a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on June 4, U.S. President Donald Trump said that Putin vowed that Moscow “will have to respond” to the attack. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov later stated that Moscow will respond when and how the military deems necessary, but provided no further details.
**Conclusion**
In conclusion, Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister has claimed that the country’s damaged bombers will be restored. However, with Ukraine’s daring drone attack causing significant damage to Russia’s military capabilities, it remains to be seen whether Russia can effectively repair its damaged aircraft and respond to the attack. One thing is certain: independent journalism needs a community to hold those in power accountable for their actions.
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