NATO Backs Ukrainian Success in Operations Against Russian Strategic Aircraft and Calls It a True Military Achievement
NATO has summarized Ukraine’s successful operation against Russian strategic aviation and described it as a genuine military accomplishment. Official representatives of the North Atlantic Alliance highly appreciated the actions of Ukrainian special operations forces, which caused significant damage to the Russian aircraft fleet and substantially weakened the aggressor’s capabilities in the strategic aviation sphere. According to data obtained from unnamed NATO sources, a senior official noted that this operation is among the most successful in the ongoing war. Unambiguously emphasizing its importance, he added that the alliance’s official assessment is based on studied and collected data, and although these calculations are not performed by Ukraine, their results nearly fully align with Ukrainian conclusions. “We have recorded that at least 40 Russian aircraft were damaged, and between 10 and 13 of them were completely destroyed,” stated a NATO representative. According to him, among the damaged targets were 15 Tu-95 strategic bombers and 20 Tu-22 aircraft. Additionally, one Russian A-50 long-range radar surveillance aircraft was included in the list, of which Russia has only a few in service. Analysis shows that this strike destroyed or damaged approximately 34% of Russian missile carriers — “This has a critical impact on Russia’s ability to conduct strategic air operations,” emphasized the official. He also pointed out that these results do not account for the fact that some damaged or destroyed aircraft could have been used as “parts donors,” meaning not all damaged machines were capable of combat operations. At the same time, this does not diminish Russia’s ability to carry out missile strikes. He also added that the destruction of part of the aviation equipment significantly reduced Russia’s capacity to conduct air raids, including morning missile strikes, which are well known to Ukrainians from experience. It is important to highlight that this success of Ukrainian forces not only weakens Russia’s strategic potential but also proves Ukraine’s ability to inflict substantial damage on the aggressor’s military infrastructure in any region of Russia. This fact received positive feedback from NATO, which emphasized that Ukraine’s capacity to operate on such a scale and with such effectiveness signifies an increase in its military potential and its ability to respond to aggression. The prerequisites for this were laid by widespread discussions within allied circles regarding Ukraine’s attack on Russian strategic airbases. NATO Secretary General in his official comment noted that these actions highlight the strength and dedication of the Ukrainian military, as well as their capacity to resist significantly even in wartime conditions. The political aspect is also crucial — on the eve of this move, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy received support from leaders of several NATO countries, who confirmed that during Operation “Web,” Ukraine demonstrated its ability to defend itself and cause destruction to the enemy. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, in particular, remarked during her comments that the events that took place at Russian military airfields genuinely demonstrate Ukraine’s high defensive capacity and its ability to conduct counteroffensives. According to her, this is an important signal for the international community and shows that support for Ukraine in its struggle is timely and effective. Thus, the results of recent operations serve as a clear testament that Ukrainian efforts put serious pressure on Russia’s military potential and can change the balance of power in the war. Ukraine has gained additional motivation and even greater confidence in its ability to defend its independence and sovereignty, and the international community increasingly recognizes the importance and effectiveness of Ukrainian actions in resisting the aggressor.