RUSSIA – Vladimir Putin has moved at least four heavy Tu-95MS nuclear bombers closer to Europe, says a report.
The strategic aircraft are often used to bomb Ukraine, and the report from Insider UA says they have been loaded with missiles, leading to a ‘high probability’ of an imminent major attack.
But, if confirmed, the move comes after Donald Trump ordered two nuclear submarines ‘closer to Russia’ after a threat of atomic war from the Kremlin dictator’s close ally, Dmitry Medvedev. The US submarines are now ‘where they have to be’, Trump said late on Sunday. Putin rebased his Tu-95MS planes from Olenya air base in Arctic Murmansk region after an audacious June 1 drone strike by Ukraine.
They were also moved from Engels-2 in Saratov region amid fears of Ukrainian attacks. They were sent to Russia’s Ukrainka air base in Amur region, 3 650 miles east of Moscow, where they were considered safe from attack, but evidently some of the planes are returning.
The report said: ‘‘Russia has transferred bombers from the Far East closer to Ukraine. At least 4 Tu-95MS aircraft were redeployed from Ukrainka (air base) to Olenya/Engels-2. Some of the aircraft are already equipped with cruise missiles.’
The planes are part of Russia’s nuclear strike arsenal but are also used for hitting Ukraine with conventional bombs. Meanwhile on Monday, Ukraine’s domestic security service said it had demolished a Russian jet fighter and damaged four other military aircraft in a strike on Crimea, held by Russia.
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