Russia launches strategic aviation: Ukraine under cruise missile attack
Illustrative photo: Russia launched strategic aviation on June 9 (Getty Images)
Russia has likely launched several strategic bombers into the sky, as missile strikes were carried out against Ukraine, according to the Ukrainian Air Force.
At approximately 04:05 AM Kyiv time, the Ukrainian Air Force reported the movement of cruise missiles from the Bryansk region toward the Chernihiv region.
It remains unclear what platform launched the missiles. However, shortly before the report, monitoring channels had noted the takeoff of Russian Tu-95MS strategic bombers.
At 04:30 AM Kyiv time, according to the Air Force, several groups of cruise missiles were moving through the Chernihiv region toward the Kyiv region. Later, it was clarified that missiles were also flying over the Zhytomyr region toward the Rivne region.
Tu-95 data
The Tu-95MS is a strategic bomber and missile carrier in service with the Russian Aerospace Forces. A modernized version of the Soviet-era Tu-95, originally developed during the Cold War, it features four turboprop engines with counter-rotating propellers, enabling it to fly long distances at a cruising speed of around 800 km/h.
Its main armament includes long-range cruise missiles, such as the Kh-101 or nuclear-capable Kh-55, making it a vital component of Russia’s nuclear triad.
Despite its age, the aircraft remains actively used in combat missions and training. It undergoes periodic upgrades to its avionics, communications systems, and weaponry, which maintain its operational relevance.
Recent massive missile strike
On the night of June 6, Russian forces carried out another large-scale missile strike on Ukraine. The cities of Kyiv, Chernihiv, Lutsk, and Ternopil came under fire.
Initially, Russian forces launched Shahed-type drones at several regions, followed by ballistic missile strikes targeting Kyiv and Chernihiv. Three emergency workers were killed in Kyiv while responding to the aftermath of an earlier strike.
Ternopil suffered significant damage in one of the most intense attacks since the full-scale invasion began, including direct hits on industrial and critical infrastructure facilities.
In Chernihiv, Russian forces struck a residential area, leaving part of the city without electricity.
Commenting on the attack, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia "doesn`t change its stripes" and urged Western countries to increase pressure on Moscow.
More details on the consequences can be found in RBC-Ukraine's full report.
