Ukraine's Air Force responds to reports of Russia preparing payback for Spiderweb operation
Photo: Yurii Ihnat (suspilne media)
Following the strikes on Russian air bases with strategic aircraft, Moscow may retaliate largely. The Air Force of Ukraine warns that the threat of new attacks from Russia remains, although no obvious signals have been recorded so far, according to The New York Times and Ukrainska Pravda citing Yurii Ihnat, head of the Communications Department of the Air Force Command.
The New York Times, citing American officials, wrote that Russia is expected to retaliate against Ukraine for the SBU's strikes on air bases with strategic aircraft.
“US intelligence has not, so far, identified what Russia is likely to strike, but officials believe Moscow could renew drone strikes on civilian targets, hit the energy grid or launch new waves of intermediate-range ballistic missiles,” the article reads.
What the Air Force says
Ihnat notes that Russian aviation is of various types. There is one that works directly at the front and does not stop working. These are Su-30, Su-35, and Su-34, which attack the Sumy, Zaporizhzhia, and Donetsk regions with air defense systems. And there is strategic aviation, which launches missile strikes against Ukraine.
“What could be the threatening actions of strategic aviation? It can fly to the launch area, Saratov region, and launch missiles from there. A threat is when there is information that aircraft are likely to be equipped with missiles or that munitions are being brought to temporary or permanent airfields. Then it is a threat to us, we should expect attacks,” says Ihnat.
However, according to him, there are no unambiguous signals of preparations for attacks.
“In any case, it is clear that Russia has the means. Not all Russian strategic aviation aircraft were destroyed. That is why both the Defense Forces and the Air Force need to be extremely careful. And, of course, our citizens,” he emphasized.
SBU special operation
On Sunday, June 1, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) used drones to attack Russian airfields. Later, SBU head Vasyl Malyuk said that the attack destroyed 41 Russian aircraft. Most of them were strategic bombers.
The drones hit four military bases: Belaya, Dyagilevo, Olenya and Ivanovo.
The SBU has already calculated how much Russia lost in one day of the Ukrainian special operation.
