- 1 Tu-95 and massive shelling of Ukraine
- 2 How many such aircraft are in service with Russia?
- 3 Russia attacks Ukraine with its own planes
- 4 Things to know about the Tu-95 bomber
- 5 Other aircraft that Russia has
- 6 What missiles does Russia use to hit Ukraine from the Tu-95?
- 1 Tu-95 and massive shelling of Ukraine
- 2 How many such aircraft are in service with Russia?
- 3 Russia attacks Ukraine with its own planes
- 4 Things to know about the Tu-95 bomber
- 5 Other aircraft that Russia has
- 6 What missiles does Russia use to strike Ukraine from Tu-95?
On the night of March 14, the occupiers again took to the skies Tu-95 bombers carrying Kh-101/Kh-555/Kh-55 cruise missiles. These missiles are the main ones in the massive missile strikes on Ukraine.
What is known about these planes and the missiles they are capable of launching – read in this article by Channel 24 .
Tu-95 and massive shelling of Ukraine
- Throughout February 2026, the Air Defense destroyed more than 30,000 air targets, including 87 Kh-101 cruise missiles.
- On February 26, monitors recorded the takeoff in Russia of at least 2 Tu-95MS aircraft from “Olenya” and 2 Tu-160s from “Engels”. Later, Russian cruise missiles flew into our sky. Massive missile fire began.
- On February 17, the Russians launched 20 Kh-101 missiles from Tu-95 bombers. All of the missiles were destroyed by air defense forces.
- On February 7, the enemy used 21 Kh-101 missiles launched from a Tu-95 to attack Ukraine. Air defense forces destroyed 14 missiles.
- On the night of February 3, 28 Kh-101 and Iskander-K cruise missiles flew into Ukraine, 20 were neutralized.
- On the night of January 20, the enemy attacked with 15 Kh-101 cruise missiles, 13 of which were neutralized.
- On the night of December 23, the enemy launched 35 Kh-101 and Iskander-K cruise missiles, 34 were destroyed. On the night of December 27, 21 Kh-101 cruise missiles, 19 were neutralized.
- On the night of December 6, the enemy launched a combined strike on critical infrastructure facilities, using, among other things, 34 Kh-101, Iskander-K, and Caliber cruise missiles. The launches were from the Rostov region and the Black Sea.
- During November 2025, the Air Defense of the Defense Forces destroyed 51 Kh-101 cruise missiles. The enemy used 40 of them on the night of November 19, and 23 on November 29.
- On the night of October 30, the enemy used 30 Kh-101 cruise missiles from “Tushki”, 21 of which were neutralized. In total, there were 53 of these during October.
- On the night of October 5, the enemy launched a combined strike on Ukraine, using 42 Kh-101/Iskander-K cruise missiles. According to the Air Force report, 32 of them were neutralized.
- As a result of the Russian attack on Ukraine on September 28, more than 30 direct drone and missile hits were recorded, including in Kyiv.
- On the night of September 20, Russia launched 32 Kh-101 cruise missiles from the airspace of the Saratov region. 29 were neutralized.
- On September 10, Russia used 42 cruise and aircraft missiles Kh-101, Kalibr, Kh-59(69). 27 were neutralized.
- On the night of September 3, Russia launched 8 Kh-101 cruise missiles from the airspace of the Saratov region and Krasnodar Territory. 7 were neutralized.
How many such aircraft are in service with Russia?
According to The Military Balance, by the end of 2022, the Russians had 60 Tu-95MS aircraft at their disposal. However, the actual number of combat-ready bombers of this type is significantly lower. We are talking about about 45 Tu-95MS and 18 Tu-95MSM.
Before the full-scale invasion, Moscow had 42 Tu-95MS aircraft, according to international experts. However, they believe that only about three dozen of these aircraft are actually operational. In addition, Russia has 15 Tu-160 aircraft.
At this time, Russian forces have deployed a maximum of 20 Tu-95MS aircraft to strike Ukrainian cities. So, it seems that the actual number of combat-ready Tu-95MS is at most 50% of the number “on paper.”
On the night of April 5, 2024, Russian military airfields in Morozovsk, Eysk, and Engels were attacked by drones. According to Channel 24 sources, at least 3 Tu-95MS strategic bombers at Engels-2 military airfield were likely seriously damaged as a result of the UAV attack.
Russia is attacking Ukraine with its own planes
In the late 1990s, Ukraine handed over to the aggressor country:
- 8 Tu-160 bombers;
- 3 Tu-95MS bombers.
At the same time, some of the Tu-22 bombers that Russia received as part of its share when the Black Sea Fleet was divided were also transferred.
What you should know about the Tu-95 bomber
The Tu-95 is a Soviet strategic missile-carrying bomber, designed as a counterpart to the American Convair B-36 Peacemaker strategic bomber. It was developed during the Cold War to deliver nuclear weapons over long distances.
It can operate behind enemy lines at any time of day and in any weather.
Its combat radius is 6,500 kilometers, which means that these planes, unfortunately, are hitting Ukraine. The flight range is 13,000 kilometers.
Main characteristics of the Tu-95:
- maximum speed – 830 kilometers per hour;
- crew – 7 people;
- weight of the equipment – 190 tons;
- power – 15 thousand horsepower;
The aircraft also has four NK-12 turboprop engines.
According to the Aero Corner website, the estimated price of the Tu-95 is over $26 million.
Other aircraft that Russia has
It is difficult to estimate the exact number of aircraft that Russia currently has in service. Defense Express reported that at the beginning of 2021, the Russian Air Force had 380 Su-27 heavy fighters, 267 MiG-29 light fighters of various modifications, 131 MiG-31 interceptors, 274 Su-24 front-line bombers, 125 new Su-34 aircraft, and 193 Su-25 subsonic attack aircraft. This is a total of 1,370 aircraft.
In addition, according to the same data, Russia has 124 heavy bombers (16 Tu-160, 42 Tu-95 and 66 Tu-22M) and 91 combat aircraft of the Russian Navy's Naval Aviation (22 MiG-29K/KUB, 43 Su-27/33, 22 Su-24 and 4 Su-25), i.e. 1,585 aircraft. This is more than China, but still significantly less than the United States.
What missiles does Russia use to hit Ukraine from Tu-95?
The Russian Tu-95MS bomber, which carries almost two dozen missiles, has a wingspan of 49 meters.
The Kh-101 missile weighs approximately 2,200-2,400 kilograms. In addition, it is one of the most expensive Russian missiles. The estimated price of one is $13 million. For comparison, the Caliber costs half as much.
Important characteristics of X-101:
- length – 7.4 meters;
- warhead weight – up to 960 kilograms;
- missile flight speed – up to 720 kilometers per hour;
- guidance – a missile that has homing in the final section and an inertial system with optical-electronic correction;
- navigation based on the GLONASS system.
It is worth noting that our air defenses sometimes have difficulty shooting down the Kh-101 due to its unpredictable trajectory. After all, these missiles can change their target after they are launched. In addition, the Kh-101 has radar-reduction technology.
Despite this, our air defenses shoot down most of the X-101s. This is also facilitated by the emergence of powerful IRIS-T and NASAMS air defense systems.
Please note! Our intelligence reported that Ukrainian experts conducted an analysis of the guidance and navigation systems of cruise missiles of the Kh-55 type, as well as their modifications – Kh-555 and Kh-101. According to it, Russia uses guidance units in missiles that were developed in 1960 – 1970. They are produced by the Voronezh Radio Components Plant, the Minsk Integral Plant and other enterprises.
What are the characteristics of the Kh-555 missiles?
The Kh-555 missile is also a modification of the Soviet strategic aviation cruise missile Kh-55. Like the Kh-101, it is a long-range cruise missile.
The main characteristics of the Kh-555 missiles carried by Tu-95 aircraft:
- guidance – in addition to inertial navigation, it has a full-fledged Tercom system with radio and optical channels, as well as satellite navigation;
- warhead weight – 200 – 400 kilograms;
- starting weight – 1500 kilograms;
- flight speed – up to 830 kilometers per hour;
- height – 40 – 110 meters;
- accuracy – 100 meters;
- Flight range – up to 2 thousand kilometers.
It is worth noting that the Kremlin tested both the X-101 and the X-555 in Syria, mercilessly destroying civilians.