Drone Strikes on Tu-95s Threaten Russia's Nuclear Deterrence, Prompt Nuclear Response

On Sunday, June 1, Ukraine attacked several Russian regions targeting military airfields with strategic aircraft deployed on them. Targets were hit in Murmansk, Irkutsk, Ivanovo, Ryazan, and Amur regions (Northern, Central and Far Eastern regions). According to Kyiv, the attacks were carried out to annihilate carriers of cruise missiles located at those airbases. Russia’s Ministry of Defense stated that no one was killed, but several aircraft were damaged. Ukrainian officials said, however that the attacks led to the destruction of as much as 34 percent of Russia's strategic fleet.