Russian forces are utilizing strategic bombers Tu-160, which Ukraine transferred 25 years ago to settle a gas debt.
As reported by the "Schemes" project of "Radio Liberty," an analysis of serial numbers from the 1999 aircraft transfer agreement and international aviation registries revealed that at least six Tu-160 bombers transferred by Ukraine are currently in active service with the enemy's army.
In total, the journalists from "Schemes" identified ten Ukrainian strategic aircraft that were handed over to Russia. They have been assigned new names:
- "Nikolai Kuznetsov" (previously the Ukrainian aircraft with tail number "10"),
- "Vasiliy Senko" ("11"),
- "Alexander Novikov" ("12"),
- "Vladimir Sudets" ("15"),
- "Alexey Plokhov" ("16"),
- "Andrey Tupolev" ("18"),
- "Igor Sikorsky" ("22").
At least six Tu-160 units are currently in active service with the Russian army.
Additionally, among the aircraft transferred by Ukrainian authorities, Tu-95MS bombers were also found. They are currently named "Krasnoyarsk," "Sevastopol," and "Izborsk."
Use of Bombers in the RF's War Against Ukraine
Russian terrorists have repeatedly used strategic bombers Tu-95MS for attacks on Ukraine in recent years. It is from these aircraft that the enemy launches X-101 missiles during massive missile strikes on Ukraine.
Notably, Tu-160s have been used quite rarely. However, during the major attack on November 17, the RF deployed these aircraft. They can launch Soviet-made X-55 missiles. According to expert Anatoly Khrapchinsky, since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Russians have already used these aircraft to shell Ukrainian territory, but they have been very careful with them, understanding that they have a limited resource.