Exclusive-Ukraine hit fewer Russian planes than it estimated, US officials say

Reuters via Yahoo ^ | June 4th, 2025 | Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali

[Mariner]

Two thoughts:

- Within two minutes Ukraine's claim of 41 aircraft had circled the globe twice. And within a couple of days a couple of billion people heard the claim.

- The US has an interest in Russia responding with severe, shocking results. It would act as a deterrent for our own vulnerable fleet.

[john drake]

Zelensky exaggerating, uh, lying, no kidding.

[adorno]

hit as many as 20 Russian warplanes, destroying around 10 of them

Destroyed 10, but hit 20.

No assessment of how many were rendered unusable? If the 20 were his and suffered at least some damage, chances are that they won't see action any time soon. Might as well be considered disabled, all of them.

And for the low cost of the drones, the damage to Russian assets likely goes into the many billions.

[McGruff]

This is my shocked face.

[Kazan]

The United States assesses that Ukraine's drone attack over the weekend hit as many as 20 Russian warplanes, destroying around 10 of them, two U.S. officials told Reuters

That figure is probably an exaggeration as well.

[SpaceBar]

Numbers notwithstanding, you don’t just tool-up and start cranking out Soviet era Tupolev long range bombers to replace the ones lost. Those babies are gone forever.

[Karl Spooner]

This former Z adviser has been 100% correct since he fled Ukraine.

.

[Owen]

Russian Ministry Of Defense says 4 planes were destroyed. 0 casualties.

I have some faith in Tulsi’s people (assuming she got NRO staff replaced by now) so I would not cut the US estimate in half. Call it 10 (from Tulsi) + 4 (MOD) / 2 and you get 7.

Russian bomber fleet pre-war was 136.

US bomber total — 60, 40 of which B-52, 20 of which B2

US nuclear warhead distribution is 80% submarines, 20% ICBMs and Bombers.

Russia nuclear warhead distribution 60% submarines, 40% ICBMs and bombers (with the very significant reality that the ICBM leg of their Triad is clearly superior to the US in that, simply, they are mobile. They will move on warning and escape the blast zone)

[Eastern Shore Virginian]

Less than what Ukraine said, more than Russia said. What’s the story? What else would they say?

[BobL]

Thanks,

We figured that the Zeepers were LYING TO US, yet again, when they claimed 40 planes destroyed.

[Red6]

I should have used my normal BS filter and estimated the true number to be far less.

I fell for it.

[dforest]

Figures, Zelensky is a well known liar. I imagine the Ghost of Kiev emerged from the rubble.

[Karl Spooner]

Time to park them in the desert. You got to wonder about our intelligence even to send them over there. Crimea Bridge reopened yesterday, too.

.

[Cold Heart]

Boeing probably has some 737 Max’s they could sell them

[Cold Heart]

Check to see if there are faucet restrictors in the fuel line.

[rfp1234]

Take the Uke claims and divide by 4. Just like their absurd estimate of 1,000,000 Russian casualties.

[mass55th]

"Zelensky exaggerating, uh, lying, no kidding."

What could one expect from a dwarf that plays the piano with his penis?

[mass55th]

Sounds like something right out of Joseph Goebbels’s Reich Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda.

[dennisw]

“The US has an interest in Russia responding with severe, shocking results. It would act as a deterrent for our own vulnerable fleet.”

Where did you buy that sub-prime logic? Laughable!

[dennisw]

I heard estimates of $70.000 to pull off the operation that wrecked 7 billion dollars worth of airplanes. If the number of ruined airplanes gets revised downward......Still very impressive leverage of drone assets.