Russia Vows to Restore Warplanes Damaged in Ukrainian Drone Attacks, Says Deputy Foreign Minister

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov stated that while Russian warplanes sustained damage during a Ukrainian attack on June 1, they were not destroyed and will be repaired.

Ukrainian drones targeted airbases in Siberia and the far northern regions, where Russia maintains heavy bombers that are part of its strategic nuclear arsenal.

According to two U.S. officials speaking to Reuters, American intelligence indicates that up to 20 Russian aircraft were affected and approximately 10 were destroyed, a figure significantly lower than the estimates provided by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

Ryabkov, who is responsible for arms control negotiations, told the state-backed news source TASS that, «As representatives of the Ministry of Defense have also noted, the equipment in question was damaged but not destroyed. It will be repaired.»

It remains uncertain how quickly Russia will be able to repair or replace the damaged planes, especially considering the complexity of their technology, the age of many Soviet-era models, and Western sanctions that limit the importation of crucial components.

Commercial satellite images captured following the drone strike appear to show damaged Russian Tu-95 strategic bombers and Tu-22 Backfire long-range bombers, which have been used by Russia to conduct missile strikes against Ukraine.

In a recent phone conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin indicated that Moscow would need to respond to these assaults, according to Trump.

Russia is estimated to operate a fleet of 67 strategic bombers, including 52 Tu-95s, known as Bear-H by NATO, and 15 Tu-160s, referred to as Blackjacks, with around 58 believed to be in active service, as reported by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists.

Additionally, the country has 289 non-strategic fighters and bombers, such as Tu-22s, Su-24s, Su-34s, and MiG-31s, according to the same publication. Russia has not disclosed specific information about which aircraft were damaged but confirmed that five airbases were targeted by Ukraine.

The Tu-95 and Tu-22 are Soviet-era aircraft that have been in service for decades. In 2024, the state industrial group Rostec announced that upgraded models of the Tu-95 are actively used and there are no plans for its retirement.

The latest version, the Tu-95MSM, began testing in 2020, with Rostec claiming that it represents a significant improvement that enhances the aircraft’s efficiency and lifespan.

The United Aircraft Corporation, a subsidiary of Rostec that produces these planes, noted that the Tu-22M3 has been in regular production since 1978 and entered military service in 1989.

Rostec has not yet responded to Reuters’ inquiry about the specific challenges related to obtaining parts for these aircraft.