"Irregular presence" of Russian bombers capable of carrying nukes detected near Finland

[Yorkie Mom]

Israeli intelligence firm @ImageSatIntl has detected an “irregular presence” of Russian TU-160 & TU-95 strategic bombers deployed to Olenya Airbase. The base, on the Kola Peninsula, houses a significant number of military hardware, including tactical & strategic nuclear weapons

Link to tweet

Russian bombers capable of carrying nukes detected near Finland

Israeli intelligence firm ImageSat International (ISI) has detected an “irregular presence” of Russian TU-160 and TU-95 strategic bombers deployed to the Olenya Airbase near Finland.

According to satellite images taken by the firm, four TU-160s were detected on August 21rst and three TU-95s were detected on September 25th. There were no strategic bombers present at the airbase on August 12th.

“Through ongoing Patterns-of-Life, the system indicates that Engels air base is the possible departure point of the strategic bombers detected in Olenya airbase,” the report read.

Engels air base is home to Russia’s only strategic bombers stationed near Ukraine and is the home base for the 121rst Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment (121 TBAP) that flies the TU-160s and TU-95.

... snip

While it is unclear why the bombers have been moved to the airbase, it comes as Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to threaten the West that he could use strategic nuclear weapons, including after he announced a partial mobilization in the country, saying that “this is not a bluff.”

More: https://www.jpost.com/international/article-718618

[Sneederbunk]

1. Disgruntled tourists.

[Initech]

2. Putin needs to be taken out. He's totally off his rocker.

And so does his Nazi buddy Medvedev - these guys are pure fucking evil.

[Abnredleg]

3. All combat aircraft are nuclear capabile

As are the large caliber artillery pieces. These bombers have been launching conventional cruise missiles since the war began.8

[Layzeebeaver]

5. that's not necessarily true

aircraft are designed for specific mission profiles.

delivering a nuclear weapon is not always included in a combat aircraft's mission suite by design.

The Russian planes mentioned above do have that as a mission profile.

[Irish_Dem]

8. Absolutely, it is a clear message from Putin.

[Layzeebeaver]

11. The Tu-160...

Has a nautical range full loaded of 12,000km. (Edit: that assumes no supersonic flight, the Bears are like 15,000km - per wikipedia. I've got a number of Jane's up in the loft but it's not worth digging around up there!!!))

Putin did not have to place them on the border with Finland.

Putin is an idiot.

He takes a strategic weapon and places it in a tactical environment. Finish Ground forces could likely wipe them out - especially with winter approaching.

If he wanted to intimidate Europe he would likely do better by mobilizing the northern fleet.

Or perhaps that's broken as well.

All that said, I've not checked the status of any Russian land units positioned on the Finnish border.

EDIT: they put a few 500km range Iskander ballistic missiles on the border outside of Helsinki a few months back. Also, it appears that almost ALL Russian offensive capability has been deployed to Ukraine. Russia is not fearing an invasion from Finland.

[Irish_Dem]

12. Putin is fighting a psy-ops war, not a military one.

Putin is not playing a military game with Finland, but a psychological one.
That is why it doesn't make sense from a strategic or tactical point of view.

Always remember that Putin is KGB and psy-ops to his core, not military.

Putin is a psychopath, and is like a serial killer who leaves calling cards at the crime scene.
And sends anonymous letters to the newspapers.

He wants to get attention and he wants to terrorize the population.

1. Putin is 100% sure Finland will not strike his Air Force installation.
Or invade. And he is correct.

2. Putin does not have the troops to send land units to the Finnish border.

3. Putin already sent the Navy to the Nordic pipeline in a military operation.

4. All he has to do is put his largest most fearsome nuclear bombers right next to the Finnish border.

[Layzeebeaver]

14. Completely agree here.

[Irish_Dem]

15. Putin is not a military genius but a ruthless psychopath and ex-KGB.

So we have to factor that into our analysis.

We are going to see more of a psychological war from this point forward.

Putin is losing the military war so is shifting his strategy.

We see the sham elections in parts of Ukraine.
The sabotage of the pipeline.
Making nuclear threats.

Interesting too he is borrowing quite a bit of action straight out of the Hitler and Stalin playbook.

[Effete Snob]

4. Yawn

[Irish_Dem]

6. Putin is terrorizing Europe.

To make them lift the sanctions and force Zelensky to surrender.

[Irish_Dem]

7. You don't send TU-160's that close to Finland unless you mean business.

Putin is trying to terrorize Europe and let them know he is serious about using nukes.

[sarisataka]

9. Meh during the cold war

Many "nuclear capable" bombers were stationed on the Kola Peninsula.

The Blackjack and Bear each have a range of around 9,000 mi. They don't need to be close to threaten Finland. Also were they used in a classic bomber mode the Finnish Air Force would make short work of them.

Positioning them on the Kola is for the same reason the Soviets kept them there. They have the range and capabilities to threaten Atlantic shipping.

[sarcasmo]

10. Take the crazy guy seriously

[TheBlackAdder]

13. With their range, positioning is not the concern. Russia probably doesn't want Ukraine to drone them

.

Those planes could depart from anywhere in Russia fly up the eastern border and break left into NATO airspace in minutes. If there were a nuclear war planned, those planes would be on a one-way mission anyway, so fuel reserves for the return trip are not a factor.

So, placing them there is probably to get them out of Ukrainian strike range.

.

[EndlessWire]

16. Hah.

A neat little package for someone to wipe out.

Russia is ignoring the fact that no one wanted to bother with Russia before he decided to eff with Ukraine. Not stopping him from taking Crimea was a big mistake.

Putin is paranoid! He's like NK, shooting off missiles to get attention. I think we have become unflappable in the face of Russian aggression. Oh, tease us, Putin! Nah, we have better things to do.