Russia's Cargo Planes Are Big Fat Targets. That's Why They're Retreating East.
Watch the biggest Russian planes relocate to the bases farthest from Ukraine.
In the week’s following the smuggled drone raid on five Russian bomber bases, carried out by the Ukrainian state security agency—the SBU—the Russian air force relocated most of its surviving bombers, in particular its Tupolev Tu-95s and Tupolev Tu-160s, to bases in Russia’s Far East.
More than 3,000 miles from the front line, these bases are the least vulnerable to routine follow-on raids. Yes, the distance adds wear and tear on the 43 remaining Tu-95s and 16 Tu-160s, but it could also preserve precious planes. Only the Tu-160 is still in production, and at a rate of just one every few years.
It’s not just the bombers that are fleeing away from the front line. Some of the Russian air force’s four or five surviving Beriev A-50 radar planes have also scattered after the Ukrainians damaged or destroyed three of them. Likewise, the air force’s heavy airlifters are retreating, too.
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