According to the Romanian resource Defense Romania, citing Ukrainian channels, Russia’s latest attack on Ukraine has showcased a new, more complex form of air aggression.
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In addition to the well-known drones, this operation also involved strategic bombers Tu-22M3 and Tu-22MS, combined with Russia’s latest fighter, the Su-57, signaling a potential shift in Russian airstrike strategy.
Russian media confirmed that during the night and morning, the Russian Armed Forces conducted a massive drone and missile strike targeting positions in territories controlled by Ukraine. Sources indicate that six strategic Tu-95MS bombers, four long-range Tu-22M3 bombers, and several Su-57 fighter jets were airborne.
“Russian sources cited Ukrainian monitoring channels reporting that six Tu-95MS strategic bombers, four Tu-22M3 long-range bombers, and several Su-57 fighter jets were in the air,” the Romanian outlet writes in its commentary.
The combination of various air platforms in this operation appears to demonstrate advanced coordination and planning by Russian forces. While drones and strategic bombers have long been integral to Russia’s tactical operations in the conflict, the inclusion of the Su-57, still in its testing phase for multi-role combat missions, highlights the strategic importance of modernizing Russia’s air capabilities.
This approach underscores Russia’s use of cutting-edge technology to intensify air pressure on Ukraine, while simultaneously testing new platforms in real combat conditions. It also raises questions about the future of Russian air doctrine and the potential of the Su-57 to shift regional power dynamics.
An air raid alert has been declared in several regions of Ukraine. Air defenses are trying to repel the Russian drone attack. Six Tu-95MS and four Tu-22M3 strategic bombers were spotted in the sky, and Su-57/34 jets were preparing to take off. https://t.co/gaA590DR6Q
— Real News (@DrNeculai) February 1, 2025
Russia’s recent multi-platform airstrike against Ukraine, involving Tu-95MS bombers, Tu-22M3 bombers, and Su-57 stealth fighters, represents a highly calculated and effective tactical operation. The Tu-95MS bombers, with their long-range strike capability and heavy payloads, were likely tasked with targeting critical infrastructure deep inside Ukraine.
These bombers, despite their age, are invaluable due to their ability to deliver precision-guided munitions from standoff distances, well beyond the reach of most Ukrainian air defense systems. This allows them to avoid direct engagement with enemy interceptors while still inflicting significant damage on high-value targets.
The Tu-22M3 bombers, known for their speed and high-altitude performance, likely played a complementary role. Their supersonic capabilities enable them to penetrate air defenses at a rapid pace, making it more difficult for Ukraine’s surface-to-air missiles or interceptors to engage them effectively.
The Tu-22M3’s ability to release heavy payloads quickly, while also outrunning threats, helps to further saturate Ukraine’s defense network and disrupt their ability to respond to multiple waves of attack in a short timeframe.
The Su-57 stealth fighters are a key component of the attack’s success. As fifth-generation aircraft with advanced radar-evading technology, the Su-57 is designed to operate in highly contested environments. Its presence in this multi-platform strike allows Russia to target Ukraine’s most critical radar installations, air defense batteries, and command centers with minimal risk of interception.
The Su-57’s low observability makes it a strategic tool for penetrating Ukrainian defenses and performing precision strikes against high-priority targets. Furthermore, its electronic warfare capabilities likely played a significant role in jamming Ukrainian radar systems, disrupting communications, and reducing the effectiveness of their air defenses.
The operational significance of this combined attack lies in its ability to exploit the full spectrum of available assets. By using a mix of platforms, Russia can overwhelm Ukrainian defenses on multiple fronts—high-speed bombers capable of evading radar, long-range bombers delivering heavy strikes, and stealth aircraft that minimize detection.
This integrated approach forces Ukraine to split its defensive efforts, stretching its air defense systems thin and preventing an effective counter-response. Ultimately, the combination of these aircraft types provides Russia with flexibility, redundancy, and a high likelihood of achieving their strategic objectives while minimizing the risk to their own forces.
On the night of February 1, 2025, Russian military forces launched a coordinated, multi-faceted attack against the Ukrainian military and energy infrastructure, signaling a continued escalation of Russia’s air and missile capabilities in the conflict.
According to Ukrainian reports, the assault began with a wave of Shahed-2 drones [similar to the Iranian Shahed-136] targeting multiple regions, including Kyiv. The initial strikes were followed by missile attacks aimed at key locations within the Ukrainian capital.
As the night progressed, more explosions were reported across Ukrainian territory. Around 3 a.m., a strike hit the only gas processing plant in Shebelynka, Kharkiv Oblast, followed by blasts in Poltava, Balakliya, and Kharkiv, as well as at the Starokonstantinov airfield in the Khmelnytskyi region.
By morning, around 8 a.m., reports of repeated explosions in Poltava indicated power outages in parts of the region, with the Mirgorod airfield also targeted.
The attacks intensified as new explosions were heard in Kharkiv and Balakliya, with continued strikes on the Starokonstantinov airfield. Notably, Starokonstantinov was hit by Geran-2 drones, highlighting Russia’s ongoing use of low-cost, high-efficiency UAVs in these operations.
The strike has been compared to one conducted earlier in January, with Russian experts noting similarities in the deployment of cutting-edge technology.
Once again, Su-57 fifth-generation stealth fighters played a key role in neutralizing Ukrainian air defense systems, suggesting that Russia is not only relying on massed missile attacks and drones but also leveraging advanced aircraft to achieve air superiority.
In a statement released on Telegram, the Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russia launched a combined strike using various air and ground-based missiles, as well as Shahed UAVs and other drone variants. Ukrainian forces responded with a layered defense, involving anti-aircraft units, electronic warfare systems, and mobile fire groups.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces confirmed the continued targeting of energy infrastructure, with strikes hitting energy and industrial sites across Zaporizhzhia, Odesa, Sumy, Kharkiv, Khmelnytskyi, and Kyiv regions. Preliminary reports suggest that 56 Shahed drones and other UAVs were downed, with 61 more reportedly lost on the way to their targets.
Some of Russia’s cruise missiles were also destroyed by Ukrainian air defenses, though reports remain unclear on whether the Kh-59/Kh-69 cruise missiles launched by Su-57 fighters were intercepted before reaching their targets.
In total, Russia employed a combination of seven Iskander-M ballistic missiles, seven Iskander-K cruise missiles, Kh-101/Kh-55 cruise missiles from Tu-95MS bombers, ten Kh-59/Kh-69 air-launched guided missiles, two Kh-31P air-to-surface missiles, and 123 drones. There are no reports of intercepted Kh-59/Kh-69 missiles, which are the Su-57’s main ammunition in this war.
2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
On February 21, 2022, Russia stated that its border facility was attacked by Ukrainian forces, resulting in the deaths of five Ukrainian fighters. However, Ukraine quickly dismissed these allegations, labeling them as ‘false flags’.
In a notable move on the same day, Russia announced it officially recognized the self-proclaimed areas of DPR and LPR. Interestingly, according to Russian President Putin, this recognition covered all the Ukrainian regions. Following this declaration, Putin sent a battalion of Russia’s military forces, tanks included, into these areas.
Fast forward to February 24, 2022, global headlines were dominated by a significant incident. Putin commanded a forceful military assault on Ukraine. Led by Russia’s impressive Armed Forces positioned at the Ukrainian border, this assault wasn’t spontaneous but a premeditated action. Despite the circumstances resembling a war, the Russian government refrains from using this term. They’d rather refer to it as a “special military operation”.
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