Russian bomber flights over Ukraine signal strategic posturing
Lately, the Russian Federation has been systematically conducting bomber flights without launching missiles over Ukraine. Military analyst Denis Popovych, quoted by the Ukrainian agency Unian, suspects these "demonstrations" of escalation might be directed at the United States.
The Russians have been regularly scrambling bombers for several days now—something that wouldn't be particularly surprising if not for the fact that these flights are not followed by attacks. Popovych notes that one such flight occurred on Monday, November 11th, another on Wednesday, and the next on Friday. On November 15th, as many as eight bombers flew, and none of them launched a missile.
Russians scramble bombers but do not attack
— The next series should take place on Sunday. If this happens, the Russians will show that they are ready to launch. Still, I think they are showing something to the Americans, who now want to bring the situation to a negotiation level, possibly demonstrating readiness for escalation. The question remains open, said the analyst.
According to the expert, such "demonstrations" require substantial financial resources. This is primarily because many planes take off during these flights, consuming a lot of fuel, which also affects the wear of the machines. Popovych mentions that Russia mainly uses Tu-95MS bombers, which cover significant distances during "demonstrations."
— To achieve some effect, I think they won't count the money. What is that effect? We'll see what happens on Sunday. If it occurs, then there is some kind of system. And it can genuinely impact an external observer before any negotiations begin, added the analyst. Popovych also stated that it cannot be confirmed whether the bombers are flying with armed missiles or are completely "empty." To determine this, one would need to track the movements of the Russians just before the machines take off.
Russian Tu-95MS bombers
The strategic bomber Tu-95MS, often called the "bear," is an extremely important element of the Russian armed forces' arsenal.
Its uniqueness is primarily due to its impressive range, which exceeds 10,000 kilometres, and its transport capacity, allowing it to carry loads weighing up to 20,000 kilograms. This cargo capacity enables the Tu-95MS to freely transport missiles and bombs, including those with nuclear warheads, during intercontinental flights. The bomber can reach a maximum flight altitude exceeding 12,000 metres, and its speed is about 830 kilometres per hour.
