RT by @mikenov: RT by @mikenov: “Ukraine just tore a hole in Russia’s strategic triad — proving nothing in Putin’s nuclear‑capable arsenal is safe.” On July 16, a swarm of Ukrainian long‑range kamikaze drones struck the heavily protected Engels‑2 strategic airbase in Saratov. Multiple OSINT sources and local Russian reports confirm the destruction of a Tu‑95 strategic bomber — one of Russia’s most valuable and hardest‑to‑replace aircraft. Engels‑2 is the primary hub for Russia’s long‑range bomber fleet, used to launch missile strikes against Ukrainian cities. By hitting deep inside Russian airspace and wiping out a Tu‑95, Ukraine delivered a psychological and military shock to the Kremlin’s

“Ukraine just tore a hole in Russia’s strategic triad — proving nothing in Putin’s nuclear‑capable arsenal is safe.”

On July 16, a swarm of Ukrainian long‑range kamikaze drones struck the heavily protected Engels‑2 strategic airbase in Saratov. Multiple OSINT sources and local Russian reports confirm the destruction of a Tu‑95 strategic bomber — one of Russia’s most valuable and hardest‑to‑replace aircraft.
Engels‑2 is the primary hub for Russia’s long‑range bomber fleet, used to launch missile strikes against Ukrainian cities. By hitting deep inside Russian airspace and wiping out a Tu‑95, Ukraine delivered a psychological and military shock to the Kremlin’s sense of strategic security.

Bottom line: Ukraine just proved that even Russia’s nuclear‑capable bomber fleet is not untouchable.
Source: OSINT analysts (GeoConfirmed, Russian regional channels), geolocated imagery from Engels‑2

— @jalle51 Jul 19, 2026