Russia Conducts Long-Range Bomber Flights Over Baltic Sea Amid Ukraine Attacks

 Russia Conducts Long-Range Bomber Flights Over Baltic Sea Amid Ukraine Attacks

Russia flew Tu-22M3 long-range bomber planes over the Baltic Sea on Wednesday, marking the first such mission since Ukraine carried out drone strikes on Russian air bases in Siberia and the north in June. Several bombers, along with Tu-95MS aircraft, flew for over four hours in the region, with some escort from fighter jets believed to be from NATO countries.

The flights serve both as a show of Russian military strength and as a message that Russia remains operational and undeterred despite recent setbacks. The Tu-22M3 and Tu-95MS (NATO reporting names Backfire and Bear-H) are part of Russia’s strategic long-range aircraft fleet, capable of launching conventional missiles targeting Ukrainian infrastructure and military sites, and are also nuclear-capable.

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Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov claimed that Moscow’s nuclear deterrent capacity remains intact despite Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian air bases, which damaged or destroyed around 10 to 20 aircraft though the U.S. estimates the damage could be higher.

Ryabkov accused Western countries of providing Ukraine with technical support, allowing it to target Russian military assets effectively, and warned that this undermines nuclear deterrence. The U.S. reported that President Trump was not briefed in advance of Ukraine’s recent operation, dubbed "Spider’s Web," which Ukraine says was planned for 18 months.