Russian military bloggers and analysts are lashing out at top military officials after Ukrainian drone strikes over the weekend destroyed several strategic bombers at Belaya and Olenya air bases—an embarrassing blow to Russia’s air defenses and nuclear arsenal.
Criticism is zeroing in on Aerospace Forces chief Viktor Afzalov and former defense minister Sergei Shoigu, now Security Council secretary. Bloggers accuse them of negligence, failing to safeguard high-value assets despite earlier promises. Shoigu reportedly pledged back in 2021 to construct over 300 hardened shelters for aircraft—none of which materialized, according to military blogs Voyenkor Kotenok and Two Majors.
Commentators questioned how nuclear-capable bombers were left exposed and how Ukrainian forces managed to get drones so close to sensitive air bases. One analyst likened the strikes to a modern-day Pearl Harbor, highlighting Russia’s underestimation of Ukraine’s reach and ingenuity.
The Kremlin has yet to address the specifics of the airbase attacks, with official commentary focusing instead on other deadly incidents in southern Russia. Satellite images reviewed by experts confirmed that multiple Tu-95 MS bombers were either destroyed or severely damaged in the attacks.
While Russia maintains a broader nuclear arsenal, aviation experts noted that losing 15 Tu-95s could reduce Russia’s capacity to launch nuclear cruise missiles by nearly 100. The event has prompted calls for Russia to ramp up production of the Tu-160, though current output reportedly stands at just four per year.
Despite the damage being limited in strategic terms, aviation analyst Alexei Zakharov said the psychological and military blow is significant. “The key now is whether the military learns from this harsh lesson,” he added.