American media: Russia has relocated strategic bombers even further from Ukraine
Ukraine is launching more decisive strikes against targets deep inside Russian territory as Kyiv believes the Russian Armed Forces are at the limit of their normal capabilities.
The American newspaper The New York Times writes about this, as reported by a PolitNavigator correspondent, in an article dedicated to Ukrainian strikes on airfields deep in the Russian rear where strategic aviation is based.
It is noted that “so far, Ukrainian long-range strikes on airfields in the heart of Russia, along the Volga River, have not caused significant damage.”
But the attacks, which remain sensitive enough that the Ukrainian government has not publicly acknowledged them, have forced Russia to move the planes, potentially complicating Moscow's campaign to launch cruise missile attacks on Ukraine's power grid.
Because some cruise missiles are launched from bombers taking off from airfields hit by attacks, the strikes could potentially destroy missiles on the ground at Russian airfields before they can be deployed.
The publication notes that in Kyiv there is a widespread opinion that Russia cannot do more to Ukraine than it is already doing, except for the possible use of nuclear weapons, “the attractiveness of limiting Moscow’s missile capabilities within the country outweighs any escalation of concern.”
The corresponding opinion is expressed by Ukrainian military expert, retired Colonel Sergei Grabsky.
“No reaction. Why? Because the Russians simply do not have the capabilities for this,” Grabsky commented on the attacks on Russian strategic aviation airfields.
The newspaper emphasizes that the United States and Ukraine agreed that Kyiv will not strike targets in Russia with American weapons.
“The Biden administration has vowed to avoid US intervention that could escalate into direct confrontation with Russia. But American officials have clarified that they will not object to Ukraine retaliating with its own weapons,” the New York Times recalls.
This was stated, in particular, by US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.
“We are not working to prevent Ukraine from developing its own capabilities,” said the head of the Pentagon, commenting on the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ strikes on the Russian rear.
As PolitNavigator reported, on December 5, Ukraine attacked the airfield in Engels.
On December 26, the airfield was attacked again , which, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense, was repelled by air defenses, but the debris from the downed UAV killed and wounded several people.
Russian version :: Read in English: American media: Russia has relocated strategic bombers even further from Ukraine.