Planet Labs satellite images, published by the Schemes investigation project associated with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, reveal significant damage to a military bomber. Analysis conducted by the AviVector project suggests that the extent of the damage to the aircraft is such that it is deemed irreparable. The images, sourced from July 19, show the damaged Tu-95MS bomber situated near a second, undamaged aircraft of the same model.
This observation follows a report issued by the Ukrainian SBU security service on July 17. The SBU stated that an explosion had occurred at the Engels-2 long-range drones airbase, located approximately 800 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. According to the security service, the blast completely severed the tail section of the targeted bomber.
The SBU characterized the action as a systematic effort to degrade the Russian military capacity. They asserted that the destruction of strategic bombers translates directly into the loss of numerous unfired missiles. The evidence provided by the satellite imagery contributes to the ongoing documentation of military activities in the region.
The published visuals allow analysts to track the status and operational capacity of Russian air assets following reported strikes.
Topics: #bomber #satellite #images
