The Security Service of Ukraine announced the destruction of a Tu-95 strategic bomber at russia’s Engels military airfield using long-range UAVs.
In turn, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the destruction of a russian Tu-95 strategic bomber at the Engels military airfield in the Saratov region of the russian federation.
Read more: Why Ukrainian FPV Drones Struck Tu-95MS and Tu-22M3 in Specific Spots, and Why Precision Was Crucial
I am grateful to our warriors for their accuracy. Once again, there have been successful long-range sanctions against Russia for this war. In particular, the Security Service of Ukraine destroyed a Tu-95 military aircraft in Engels that had been used for Russian missile strikes… pic.twitter.com/7nF3BTBzLL— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) July 17, 2026
According to Volodymyr Zelensky, the plane was hit during an attack by the Ukrainian military on one of the key facilities of russian strategic aviation.
According to preliminary data from the Security Service of Ukraine, as a result of the strike, the aircraft suffered critical damage – its tail section was completely torn off, which actually makes it unsuitable for further operation.
Engels airfield is located approximately 800 kilometers from the state border of Ukraine and is one of the main bases of russian strategic aviation. It is from there that bombers regularly take off and launch missile strikes on Ukrainian cities.
According to the Ukrainian side, the destroyed Tu-95 was used by the russian military to launch Kh-101 and Kh-555/Kh-55 long-range cruise missiles, with which they repeatedly attacked civilian and critical infrastructure facilities in Ukraine.
The day before, Ukrainian forces struck Engels airfield, where the 121st Guards Sevastopol Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment and the 184th Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment are stationed. These units are armed with Tu-160 and Tu-95MS strategic bombers - the main carriers of long-range cruise missiles in the russia’s arsenal.
The destruction of such an aircraft is a tangible loss for russian strategic aviation, as the production of new Tu-95s has long been discontinued, and the existing fleet of such aircraft is gradually decreasing.
Defense Express reminds that Ukraine's Operation Spider's Web with FPV drones attacking enemy airfields destroyed 34% of russian airborne carriers of strategic cruise missiles and one-third of the air component of the country's nuclear triad.
Read more: SSU Operation Pavutyna: How Ukraine Dealt a Devastating Blow to russia’s Strategic Aviation
