Russian strategic bombers again involved in strikes on Ukrainian territory: Tu-95MS and Tu-160 launched missiles once more
During the night from May 24 to May 25, Ukrainian defenders recorded a new series of strikes from Russia, caused by a large-scale attack involving strategic aircraft. According to the Ukrainian Air Force, at 01:55 a.m. on May 25, launches of cruise missiles were recorded, carried out from Russian strategic bombers of the Tu-95MS and Tu-160 types. These aircraft, capable of carrying and launching intercontinental missiles, once again used their capabilities to strike Ukrainian territory — a fact confirmed by Ukrainian military sources and monitoring agencies. An official representative of the Ukrainian Air Force stated in a comment: "Missile launches from Russian strategic bombers have been recorded." This indicates that Russian crews have reactivated their high-precision weapon systems as part of an extensive operation aimed at targeting objects on Ukrainian soil. The background of this event is the evening increase in tension in Ukraine’s airspace. Over the past day, Kyiv and most regions of the country were under air raid alert, as Ukrainian air defense forces detected and destroyed a significant number of enemy drones and missiles. Preliminary reports indicate that dozens of unmanned aerial vehicles attempted to strike or conduct reconnaissance over Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv. Ukrainian military personnel are emphasizing efforts to oppose the enemy: some enemy targets have been successfully shot down by air defense forces, but some drones and missiles still reached their targets or continue to enter Ukrainian airspace. This once again highlights the difficulty in countering large-scale missile and aviation strikes, which Russia tries to escalate to pressure the Ukrainian population and military objects. Overall, the night of May 25 serves as a vivid example of how Russia uses all available means for warfare — from unmanned aerial vehicles to strategic bombers. Ukrainian defenders are already preparing appropriate responses and continue to improve air defense systems to counter further aggression, as Russia demonstrates its readiness to keep active military operations aimed at destroying infrastructure and reducing Ukraine’s combat resources.