Ukrainian service claims explosion at Crimean bridge
The Ukrainian security service SBU claims to have attacked a bridge between Crimea and Russia with explosives. The bridge was reportedly damaged. The extent of the damage is not clear. Traffic was reportedly disrupted. The SBU says on Telegram that 1,100 kilos of explosives went off underwater early Tuesday morning. This damaged pillars of the 17-kilometre-long Crimean bridge, the service says.

The bridge is a key supply route for Russian troops in the war in Ukraine. The SBU calls it a "unique special operation" that has been in the works for a long time. The service also claims to have been behind attacks in 2022 and 2023. The service has published images that allegedly show the explosion. Water is sprayed into the air and debris is flying around. A photo shows damage to the side of the structure. Russian authorities reported that the bridge was closed for several hours in the early hours of Tuesday.

International • 17:59 • Modified at 17:59
Russian nuclear doctrine seriously damaged by Ukrainian attack on strategic bombers
Author : BNR Web Editors
The Ukrainian drone attack on Russian air bases has not only dented Russia's self-confidence, but also the operational capacity of the air force. The financial damage is also enormous. But where the Ukrainian General Staff initially reported the destruction of 41 aircraft, Andriy Kovalenke of the Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council says that 'at least 13 Russian aircraft were destroyed'.

During Operation Spiderweb, 117 drones, cleverly hidden in the roofs of wooden houses on trucks, attacked four Russian airfields. According to defense magazine The War Zone, the Ukrainian operation will have a long-term effect on Russian strategic aviation.

Reportedly, the following aircraft types were destroyed or severely damaged: a Tu-22M3 Backfire-C medium-range supersonic bomber, a Tu-95MS Bear-H long-range turboprop bomber, an A-50 Mainstay airborne early warning and control platform, and a Tu-160 Blackjack long-range supersonic bomber. The Tu-160 is considered the "crown jewel of long-range aviation" and is the only Russian bomber still in production, albeit on a very limited scale.

The Russian Defense Ministry has since admitted that drone strikes took place in the Murmansk, Irkutsk, Ivanovo, Ryazan and Amur regions, and that "several" aircraft caught fire in the Murmansk and Irkutsk regions, where the Olenya and Belaya bases are located.

Olenya is located on the Kola Peninsula, south of Murmansk, and is home to several Tu-22M3s. Belaya, near Irkutsk, is also a so-called 'Backfire base'. The air bases of Dyagilevo and Ivanovo were also attacked.

Dyagilevo, in the Ryazan region, is a training center for Russian long-range aviation, while Ivanovo, in the region of the same name, is home to the A-50 airborne early warning and control fleet. These aircraft belong to Russia's only AEW&C squadron and are primarily tasked with air defense and command and control duties. They play a major role in the war against Ukraine.

The Belaya base near Irkutsk near the border with Mongolia. Photo: Google Earth
The Belaya base near Irkutsk near the border with Mongolia. Photo: Google Earth
In the Amur region of the Russian Far East, there is the Ukrainka air base, where bombers are also stationed. According to unconfirmed reports, that base was also attacked by drones from a truck, but that attack failed. Video footage does show a burning truck near Ukrainka.

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$7 billion in damage
According to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the damage is estimated at around $7 billion, but since that figure is based on the loss of 41 aircraft, it will be lower, although the exact damage is not quantifiable. The only Russian bomber that can be accurately priced is the Tu-160, of which Russia ordered 10 in 2018 for around $500 million each. This makes the Tu-160 the most expensive Russian aircraft. A Russian aerospace expert told TWZ that he thinks $7 billion is on the low side and that this figure is likely to be another $3.5 billion higher.

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Nuclear bombers hit, Ukrainian drones hit target far inside Russia
The expert points out that the Tu-160 is the only aircraft currently in production. 'How can you estimate the price of the Tu-95MS, which has not been produced for more than 30 years and has no replacement? Its value to the Russian Air Force cannot be expressed in money.'

Bullet points on Belaya on the northern Kola Peninsula. Photo: X
Bullet points on Belaya on the northern Kola Peninsula. Photo: X
Irreplaceable
The stricken bombers are among Russia’s most prized strategic air assets, but now a substantial portion of that fleet cannot be replaced because the production lines no longer exist. And reactivating other bombers that have long been out of service is also not feasible. Many of the aircraft are severely outdated, have been sitting outside for decades and have often been heavily stripped for parts.

Not only are the affected bombers used in the war in Ukraine (for launching bombs and glide bombs), they are also an integral part of Russia's nuclear deterrent and its ability to carry out nuclear or conventional air strikes on targets outside Ukraine.

The strategic bombers are one of the three legs of the so-called Russian nuclear triad, the strategic concept in which nuclear weapons are launched from intercontinental ballistic missiles, strategic bombs and ballistic missile submarines

These aircraft are also regularly used for long-range patrols over Europe and Asia, including the Alaskan coast, and for irregular visits to strategic allies.

According to TWZ, the attack has 'wiped out' a significant part of Russia's nuclear triad and seriously damaged Russian credibility. Not without danger, according to the magazine, because Moscow has repeatedly stated that attacks on strategic targets would be a red line for Russia. This despite the fact that strategic bombers and critical locations have also been attacked by Ukraine several times in the past.

Russian security
Until now, however, attacks on these aircraft have been directed at only one base at a time, using smaller numbers of long-range drones. The Russians responded to these attacks by spreading and rotating aircraft on bases. The air force also took other security measures, such as so-called 'blast walls' between parked 'active' aircraft. In the event of a direct hit, there would be no 'domino effect' of fire or flying shrapnel, and damage would be limited to one hit aircraft.

Hardened aircraft shelters have also been built at various bases to better shield aircraft from drone attacks and other indirect fire. However, the size of the strategic bombers is a considerable handicap.

The Russian air force also uses scrapped aircraft as decoys, places car tires on the tops of planes (to confuse seekers of Ukrainian stand-off weapons), and paints silhouettes of aircraft on concrete surfaces of airfields. Finally, Russia has placed additional air defenses around strategic bases.

Russian measures
According to TWZ, it is unclear what measures Russia will now take to better protect its air bases. Russia may switch to an even more dispersed positioning model, something that will severely limit the effectiveness and deployment of bombers for operations in Ukraine. However, because attacks on bases can be initiated from increasingly greater distances, it is becoming increasingly difficult to effectively protect the airfields.

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Russia could protect its bombers under massive hardened aircraft shelters, a measure already being taken for Russian tactical fighter jets at bases closer to Ukraine, according to TWZ.

Regardless, Russia will have to deal with even more advanced drones in the near future, drones that are even more difficult to disrupt and even drones that operate completely autonomously thanks to AI.

Speaking to RadioFreeEurope, a former Ukrainian air force officer described the attack as the "practical collapse of a country's security architecture,"

International • 07:33 • Modified at 08:34
Ukraine expects major Russian revenge: 'Ballistic missiles not disabled'
Author : BNR Web Editors
Ukraine is bracing for Russian revenge after a spectacular Ukrainian covert operation destroyed dozens of fighter jets and bombers. "Everyone here in Kyiv is talking about it," says correspondent Chris Colijn. "Everyone expects something big to happen."

So far, the Russian response has not been forthcoming. However, yesterday the air raid siren went off several times in Kyiv, accompanied by reports that Russia was about to launch a hypersonic missile, or had even already been launched. 'That is a missile that can strike anywhere within a few minutes, so you can hardly hide from it. It turned out to be a false alarm, but it is causing a lot of unrest.'

Definitely not safe
The fact that the feared Russian reaction has not yet materialized certainly does not mean that Ukraine should feel safe. The daring attack on military airfields deep in Russia did indeed destroy many strategic bombers, but that is not the only thing that Ukraine has to fear.

'The Europeans really have to do this themselves now.'
Correspondent Chris Colijn

'Russia has been firing a lot of ballistic missiles lately. And they were not neutralized during the action. So that is the big threat now,' says Colijn. Those missiles are also fast and reasonably accurate, and Ukraine also has trouble stopping them. 'That is precisely why they need Western air defense, especially Patriots, but their missile supplies are running out. Ukraine has fewer and fewer resources to stop them. That is becoming increasingly difficult.' At the same time, Russia continues to increase its weapons production.

The missiles for the Patriot systems were previously supplied by the US. Now that the Americans are increasingly withdrawing, the question is to what extent European arms deliveries can keep the Ukrainian air defense going. A sign of this is that the Americans will not be present for the first time today at the NATO meeting on the coordination of aid to Ukraine. Colijn: 'The Europeans really have to do this themselves now.'

Russia's RIA Novosti, a state-owned news agency, said Putin told Trump that Ukraine has tried to "disrupt" the negotiations and that the government in Kyiv has "essentially turned into a terrorist organisation".

The two also "exchanged views on the prospects for restoring cooperation between the countries, which has enormous potential," it said.

The conversation between the two leaders marks the first since Ukraine launched a surprise attack using smuggled drones to strike Russian airbases on 1 June, targeting what it said were nuclear-capable long-range bombers.

Trump told Putin in the call that the US was not warned in advance of the attack, Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov said.

Last week, Trump appeared to set a two-week deadline for Putin, threatening to change how the US is responding to Russia if he believed Putin was still "tapping" him along on peace efforts in Ukraine.

NOS News
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Tuesday, 21:26
NATO chief Rutte invites President Zelensky to NATO summit

NATO Secretary General Rutte has invited Ukrainian President Zelensky to the NATO summit later this month in The Hague. Sources confirmed this to NOS.

Zelensky had previously said that Ukraine had received an invitation, but left it unclear whether he had been personally invited.

NATO correspondent Kysia Hekster:
"The Netherlands has repeatedly informed NATO chief Rutte that it considers it important as a host country that Zelensky comes to the summit in The Hague. And for many other NATO countries, the presence of the Ukrainian president is also a condition. For Rutte, it is a puzzle where Zelensky fits exactly into the program.

He will certainly not be at the meeting on Wednesday, which is only for the heads of state and government of the 32 NATO member states. He will probably be at the dinner with the king the night before, but it is not yet clear what the seating arrangement will be.

US President Trump does not want to be overshadowed by his Ukrainian colleague, with whom he has a difficult relationship. Presumably we will only see on the evening itself how Rutte, who as host is not only responsible for the invitations but even the seating arrangement, has put together the puzzle."

One of the most important points on the table is raising the defence standard, which is currently set at 2 percent of gross domestic product, but there is a plan to raise it to 5 percent.

In addition, the White House confirmed tonight that US President Trump will also attend the NATO summit. Two weeks ago, caretaker Prime Minister Schoof had already announced the arrival of the US President after a telephone conversation with him.

If any of the 32 states don't come up with the 5% defense budget they should get thrown out of NATO imo.
Countries in Southern Europe and others have to do way more!