Two Tu-95s from Engels just launched cruise missiles towards Ukraine. Only two bombers instead of the typical 6 to 10 bombers.
Maybe the damage was worse than the 2-3 damaged/destroyed TU-95’s reported. Or more likely, they are dispersing them further away to avoid more losses. Fewer aircraft, longer missions, more hours on the remaining air frames. We wore out a lot of air frames in Iraq and Afghanistan, but we produce fighter/bombers at about 10X the rate of Russia.
“Two Tu-95s from Engels... instead of the typical 6 to 10 bombers.”
Maybe that Bomber Unit is busy - all tasked out with Next of Kin Notification duties, and funeral details.
Maybe the front will see a similar sudden drop in glide bomb sorties, from the strike on Morozovsk.
Release the drones!