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VLADIMIR PUTIN'S MILITARY HAS SUFFERED A SECOND MAJOR BLOW IN THE SPACE OF A DAY AFTER TWO MAJOR RUSSIAN AIRFIELDS FOR HIS NUCLEAR STRIKE WARPLANES WERE REPORTEDLY HIT IN A BOLD ATTACK
BY UKRAINE 16:28, 01 Jun 2025Updated 17:06, 01 Jun 2025 Two key Russian airfields housing Vladimir Putin's nuclear strike aircraft have been set ABLAZE following an alleged attack by
Ukraine. Despite being thousands of miles away from Ukraine, both airfields - one in the Arctic and the other in Siberia - were reportedly "under drone attack", resulting in the
destruction of dozens of Moscow's nuclear-capable warplanes. The attack, potentially carried out using drones launched from trucks near the bases, is seen as one of the most dramatic of
the entire conflict and a significant blow for Putin. The Olenya airbase in the Arctic Murmansk region, home to Russia's Tu-95 strategic bombers - which could be used to launch nuclear
strikes on the West - has been utilised to attack Ukraine with conventional weapons. A video recorded by one of the drones shows the a row of grounded Russian military aircraft getting
blasted one by one. The drones show impressive precision as each of their targets bursts into flames, with several clips showing plumes of smoke visible from miles around. The Belaya nuclear
airbase in eastern Siberia's Irkutsk region, some 2,900 miles from Ukraine, was also reportedly on fire. Ukraine's SBU secret service is said to be conducting a large-scale
special operation to destroy Russian bombers. Article continues below Ukrainian media claimed that over 40 of Putin's aircraft, including Tu-95, Tu-22M3, and A-50 strategic bombers, had
been hit. The damage inflicted on the enemy is estimated to exceed £1.5 billion, reports the Mirror. A report suggested that the driver of a truck loaded with drones that attacked
Olenegorsk in Murmansk "may not have known about the cargo,". Baza media reports that the driver has been detained. "A truck stopped at a petrol station at the entrance to the
city....drones started flying out of the back of the truck and then attacked various objects," the report stated. A similar narrative has emerged from Siberia, though no official
statements have been made. The Ukrainian Pravda Gerashchenko Telegram channel reported: "A special operation 'Web' is being conducted to demilitarise Russia. The [SBU] report
the destruction of Russian bomber aircraft behind enemy lines. In particular, the destruction of more than 40 aircraft, including A-50, Tu-95 and Tu-22M3." Reports filtering out of
Ukraine suggest that two other significant military air bases - in Ryazan and Ivanovo regions - have been targeted. Aircraft at Dyagilevo air base in Ryazan were reportedly set alight, as
seen in recent footage. Unverified reports also hint at additional strikes on Russia's nuclear submarine base Severomorsk in the Arctic, the headquarters of the Northern Fleet. Video
clips seem to show black smoke billowing from the scene on the Kola Peninsula following explosions at the clandestine base. It remains uncertain what was hit. Russian war-channels swiftly
called for Putin to retaliate with nuclear weapons. "Disabling strategic aircraft gives Russia the right to use nuclear weapons," proclaimed Vladislav Pozdnyakov, a war expert.
Article continues below Russia's nuclear doctrine permits a nuclear response if there's an attack on "critical government or military infrastructure". Specifically,
"an enemy attack that disrupts the operation of nuclear forces, threatening Russia's ability to respond" could prompt Putin to authorise a nuclear strike.