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Russian president Vladimir Putin has increased the number of his strategic nuclear bombers stationed at an airbase near the Finnish and Norwegian borders, satellite images show.
The move comes amid high tension over whether Putin plans to launch an atomic attack in Europe and his on-going invasion of Ukraine, which has suffered a string of embarrassing setbacks in recent months.
The Russian tyrant has gradually increased the number of strategic bombers at Olenya air base – from none on August 12, to four supersonic Tu-160s on August 21, to 11 now.
News of Putin’s increasing numbers of nuclear-capable bombers at the base came as…
- Footage showed the moment an ammunition store inside Russia was hit by a Ukrainian strike in the latest attack within Vladimir Putin’s territory, in yet another embarrassing moment for the Kremlin;
- Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday promised victory over Russia as he marked Defenders Day;
- Norwegian police on Friday investigated reports of a drone that was spotted flying over the Kaarstoe gas processing plant in southwest Norway on Thursday, in potential violation of security protocols;Â
- Elon Musk said he cannot afford to keep funding Starlink satellites – that have proved vital for Ukraine in defending itself against Russia, raising fears he may cut support to the systems, hindering the war effort;
- Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said he had placed his country in what he called a state of heightened terrorism alert because of border tensions, amid fears he could order his forces to join the war;
- Damning evidence collected by the UN found Russian troops are using rape as a weapon of war against Ukrainians, with more than 100 verified cases of rape being found.
Vladimir Putin has again increased his strategic nuclear bombers at an airbase near the Finnish and Norwegian borders, say reports. Pictured: A satellite image taken on October 7, 2022 shows seven Tu-160 strategic bombers (marked in red) and four Tu-95 aircraft (marked in yellow) at the Olenya airbase, Russia Kola Peninsula
Pictured: The runway of the Olenya air base at the Kola Peninsula is seen empty on August 12, 2022
Pictured:Â Four Tu-160 ‘Blackjacks’ seen at Olenya air base around August, 21 2022 by an Israeli intelligence firm ImageSat Intl
Pictured: The Four Tu-160 ‘Blackjacks’ (at the base since August 21, 2022) were joined by three Tu-95 ‘Bears’ by September 25
The increase of nuclear-capable bombers comes amid high tension over whether Putin (seen today) plans to launch an atomic attack in Europe and his on-going invasion of Ukraine , which has suffered a string of embarrassing setbacks in recent months
There are seven Tu-160 strategic bombers (marked in red on newly released satellite images) and four Tu-95 aircraft (marked in yellow) at the facility on the Kola Peninsula – found in the extreme northwest of Russia, and in the Arctic Circle.
The disclosure comes from Faktisk.no – an independent Norwegian fact checking website – which obtained the data from American satellite operator Planet.
The buildup above at the air base follows international concern over another report two weeks ago, when The Jerusalem Post revealed there was an ‘unusual deployment’ of seven nuclear bombers at the airbase.
This was highlighted by Israeli intelligence firm ImageSat International which detected the ‘irregular presence’ of TU-160s and TU-95s.
The Armageddon planes are usually stationed at Engels Air Base, 450 miles south-east of Moscow.
Now, however, the bombers are stationed around 115 miles away from the border of NATO member Norway, and about 95 miles away from the soon-to-become Alliance member, Finland.
They can also be used with conventional weapons.
There is evidence the deployment at Olanya has Kh-101 cruise missiles for possible use against targets in Ukraine.
The Kh-101 can carry conventional or nuclear warheads.
The runway at Olenya airbase was empty on 12 August, with satellite images from October 7 showing that it is now full of warplanes.
The Tu-160 – aka White Swan, but known in the West as Blackjack – is a supersonic strategic bomber that has been the workhorse of Russia’s strategic missile forces since Soviet times.
It is the largest Mach 2+ military aircraft ever built, and as of 2022 is the largest and heaviest combat aircraft still in use – while also being the fastest bomber.Â
Pictured: A Russian Tu-160 ‘Blackjack’ strategic bomber flies over the Volga and the cities of Engels (left) and Privolzsky (right), Saratov Region, view to the east
Pictured: A Tu-95MS Bear H RF-94130 pictured flying off Scotland in 2014
As of 2016, the Russian Air Force’s Long Range Aviation branch had 16 aircraft in service, with upgrades on the aircraft being undertaken in recent years.
The jet can carry 88,000lbs of weapons on-board, with each of its two internal bays capable of holding 44,000lbs or free-fall weapons or a nuclear missile launcher.Â
In May 2020, it was reported that the Russian military was exploring whether the Tu-160 could carry a hypersonic missile. Russia’s Kh-47M2 Kinzhal (also known as ‘dagger’), is a nuclear-capable missile with a range of 1,200 miles and a speed of up to Mach 10 (ten-times the speed of sound).
Meanwhile, the super-loud Tu-95, known as Bear, is the only propeller-powered strategic bomber still in operational use today.
The aircraft first flew 70 years ago, but was only used in combat for the first time in 2015. It was originally intended to drop free-falling nuclear weapons, but has since been modified to perform several other roles.
Putin has deployed the Tu-95s to buzz Britain at moments of high tension, for example in February this year when the Royal Air Force scrambled Typhoon fighters to escort two Bears off northern Scotland.
News of Putin’s increasing numbers of nuclear-capable bombers came as footage showed the moment an ammunition store inside Russia was hit by a Ukrainian strike.
Pictured: An ammunition depot exploded in Belgorod after being hit by Ukrainian forces
Pictured: Footage shows flames and smoke rising from the site struck by Ukrainian forces
Lukashenko puts Belarus into ‘state of heightened terrorism’
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said on Friday he had placed his country in what he called a state of heightened terrorism alert because of tensions on its borders.
Lukashenko linked the move to his announcement on Monday that he had ordered Belarusian troops to deploy with Russian forces near Belarus’s southern border with Ukraine.
‘In connection with the escalation of tension, a regime of heightened terrorist danger has been introduced,’ Lukashenko said in a Russian TV interview.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said on Friday he had placed his country in what he called a state of heightened terrorism alert
‘Therefore we began a procedure with the Union group of forces, the basis of which, as I already said, is the Belarusian army, which will be supplemented by units from the Russian Federation. Everything is going according to plan.’
Allied with Moscow and wedged between Russia, Ukraine and three NATO countries, Belarus allowed Russia to use its territory as one of the launchpads for its Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine.
Its latest troop movements have raised concern in Kyiv and the West that Lukashenko may be about to commit his army to support Russia’s faltering war effort.
Political analysts say that is an unappealing option for him but that he may not be in a position to refuse if Russian President Vladimir Putin demands it.
Belarus depends on Russia politically and economically, and Putin’s support helped Lukashenko survive mass pro-democracy protests in 2020. Lukashenko crushed the demonstrations and all leading opposition figures have been jailed or forced to flee abroad.
The warehouse was reported to be at a sugar plant in Oktyabrsky, close to the border, in Belgorod region.
Oktyabrsky, close to the border, in Belgorod region.
The strike seven miles inside Russia caused a major blaze with shells exploding in the inferno, according to local Telegram channels.
It is the latest example of Kyiv taking the battle inside Putin’s territory in retaliation for his relentless attacks on Ukraine, and in a bid to dim Russian war enthusiasm.
Russian military correspondent Yevgeny Poddubny confirmed the village was hit.
Other Ukrainian missiles were shot down by Russian air defence, according to reports in Belgorod.
However, at least one got through hitting the warehouse.
Regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov also confirmed the strike, saying: ‘An ammunition depot located in a settlement in the Belgorod District came under Ukrainian Armed Forces’ fire.
‘Ammunition detonated. According to preliminary reports, there were no casualties. We will now evacuate local residents to a safe distance.’
Separately, he said air defence had shot down incoming missiles in Novooskol district. ‘The remains fell in the area of the railway. Power lines are damaged.
‘Trains are temporarily suspended. Emergency crews are waiting. I am sure that they will correct the situation very quickly and traffic will be restored. The most important thing is that there are no victims.’
A day earlier, Russia claimed a tower block was hit in Belgorod city.
On Friday, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday promised victory over Russia as his country celebrated its first Defenders Day public holiday since the start of Moscow’s invasion almost eight months ago.
‘On October 14, we express our gratitude… gratitude to everyone who fought for Ukraine in the past. And to everyone who is fighting for it now. To all who won then. And to everyone who will definitely win now,’ Zelensky said in a video address to mark the occasion.
Zelensky laid a wreath with the yellow and blue colours of the Ukrainian flag in front of a memorial in the capital Kyiv, dedicated to soldiers killed on the frontlines since 2014, when fighting broke out with Russia-backed separatists in the east.
Zelensky said that by ‘defeating’ Russia ‘we will respond to all enemies who encroached on Ukraine’.
‘This will be a victory for all our people,’ he said. ‘The world stands with us. More than ever in our history’ he added, referring to the unprecedented support from Western capitals.
Ukraine’s commander-in-chief General Valeriy Zaluzhny on social media congratulated his troops and thanked them for their service. ‘We have stopped the enemy onslaught and ended the myth about the invincibility of the Russian army,’ he said in a video address.
In Kyiv, religious services and exhibitions were planned on the occasion, with the country’s post service announcing the release of commemorative stamps. Defenders Day was established in 2014 to replace a previous February 23 holiday of Soviet origin that is still celebrated in Russia.
On Friday, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky (pictured) promised victory over Russia as his country celebrated its first Defenders Day public holiday since the start of Moscow’s invasion almost eight months ago
Norwegian police on Friday investigated reports of a drone that was spotted flying over the Kaarstoe gas processing plant in southwest Norway on Thursday in potential violation of security protocols.
The Norwegian military Home Guard has been posted at Kaarstoe and other major energy export facilities since authorities boosted security at Norwegian oil and gas installations after the September 26 Nord Stream leaks.
At 2130 local time (1930 GMT) on Thursday, the military posted at Kaarstoe reported that they had seen a drone flying in the vicinity of the plant, police official Kjetil Lussand said.
‘Police responded to find the drone and find the operator. They did not find them. We have no suspects and no arrests have been made,’ Lussand said.
Even before the Nord Stream incidents Norway’s Petroleum Safety Authority (PSA) had warned energy companies to be vigilant for unidentified drones.
Police on Thursday responded to a threat made by telephone against the Nyhamna gas plant, which alongside Kaarstoe and a handful of other Norwegian sites rank among Europe’s largest energy export facilities.
Norway is now Europe’s largest gas supplier after a sharp reduction in flows from Russia.
Flame and smoke rise fron Crimean Bridge connecting Russian mainland and Crimean peninsula over the Kerch Strait, in Kerch, Crimea, Saturday, October 8, 2022
A firefighter helps his colleague to escape from a crater as they extinguish smoke from a burned car after a Russian attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, Monday, October 10, 2022
On Thursday, Ukraine’s allies vowed to supply the besieged nation with advanced air defence systems as Russian forces attacked the Kyiv region with kamikaze drones and fired missiles elsewhere at civilian targets, payback for the bombing of a strategic bridge linking Russia with annexed Crimea.
Missile strikes killed at least five people and destroyed an apartment building in the southern city of Mykolaiv, while heavy artillery damaged more than 30 houses, a hospital, a kindergarten and other buildings in the town of Nikopol, across the river from the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.
Russia has intensified its bombardment of civilian areas in recent weeks as its military lost ground in multiple occupied regions of Ukraine that Putin has illegally annexed. Â
Kremlin war hawks have urged Putin to escalate the bombing campaign even more to punish Ukraine for Saturday’s truck bomb attack on the landmark Kerch Bridge. Ukraine has not claimed responsibility for the attack.
‘We need to protect our sky from the terror of Russia,’ Zelensky told the Council of Europe, a human rights organisation. ‘If this is done, it will be a fundamental step to end the entire war in the near future.’
Responding to Zelensky’s repeated pleas for more effective air defences, the British government announced it would provide missiles for advanced NASAM anti-aircraft systems that the Pentagon plans to send to Ukraine.Â
The U.K. also is sending hundreds of aerial drones for information-gathering and logistics support, plus 18 howitzer artillery guns.
‘These weapons will help Ukraine defend its skies from attacks and strengthen their overall missile defence alongside the U.S. NASAMS,’ U.K. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said.
Other NATO defence ministers meeting this week promised to supply systems offering medium- to long-range defence against missile attacks.
NATO plans to hold a nuclear exercise next week against the backdrop of Putin’s insistence he would use any means necessary to defend Russian territory, including the illegally annexed regions of Ukraine. The exercise takes place each year.
On the battlefield Thursday in Ukraine, Russian forces hit a five-story apartment building in Mykolaiv with an S-300 missile, regional Gov. Vitaliy Kim said, a weapon ordinarily used for targeting military aircraft. An 11-year-old boy was pulled alive from the building’s rubble after six hours but later died.
‘No words. Creature terrorists,’ Kim wrote on Telegram.
Video showed rescuers working by flashlight to pull the boy out of the concrete and metal debris. As they carried him on a stretcher through the building’s front door to an ambulance, a man who appeared to be his father leaned over to kiss the boy’s head, then place a blanket on him.
Four other people were reported killed in Mykolaiv.
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