Russia has relocated prized $500 million Tu-160 bombers nearly 410 miles from Alaska to protect them from Ukrainian drone attacks that have already devastated their bomber fleet.
At a Glance
- Russia has moved two Tu-160 “Blackjack” supersonic bombers to Anadyr airbase in Chukotka, over 4,000 miles from Ukraine but only 410 miles from Alaska
- The relocation follows Ukraine’s “Operation Spider’s Web,” which reportedly damaged or destroyed 34% of Russia’s strategic bomber fleet
- Ukrainian forces smuggled 117 drones into Russia inside modified wooden cabins during an 18-month planned operation
- The Tu-160 bombers, valued at $500 million each, are Russia’s most advanced with only 16 currently in service
- The move demonstrates Russia considers Ukraine’s drone threat more immediate than concerns about proximity to U.S. territory
Strategic Retreat to Russia’s Far East
Russia’s Aerospace Forces have dispersed their valuable strategic bomber fleet following a devastating Ukrainian drone strike dubbed “Operation Spider’s Web.” Two Tu-160 “Blackjack” supersonic bombers have been relocated to Anadyr airbase on the Chukotka Peninsula in Russia’s Far East. This remote base sits over 4,000 miles from Ukraine’s territory but a mere 410 miles from Alaska, representing an extraordinary strategic calculation by Russian military leadership facing an evolving threat landscape.
The Tu-160, Russia’s most valuable combat bomber, carries a price tag of approximately $500 million per aircraft. With only 16 currently in operational service and production heavily constrained by sanctions, each bomber represents an irreplaceable strategic asset. The relocation highlights Moscow’s assessment that Ukrainian drone capabilities now pose a greater immediate threat than potential concerns about positioning these nuclear-capable aircraft in proximity to American territory.
Ukrainian Attack on Belaya Airbase: Interpreting Satellite Imagery Evidence
It appears that based on satellite imagery of Belaya Airbase in Irkutsk Oblast, Ukrainian forces believed there were 52 strategic aviation aircraft, and 38 other military aircraft stationed there, broken… https://t.co/4aiSVq4uNV pic.twitter.com/V7Xw8PzTL3
— Vijainder K Thakur (@vkthakur) June 2, 2025
Operation Spider’s Web: A Modern Trojan Horse
The Ukrainian operation that prompted this drastic relocation represents a sophisticated intelligence and military achievement. Executed over 18 months and personally overseen by President Volodymyr Zelensky, the operation targeted multiple Russian airfields housing strategic bombers. Ukrainian forces smuggled 117 drones into Russian territory concealed inside modified wooden cabins. Once in position, Ukrainian operatives launched these drones from locations near Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) offices, exploiting blind spots in Russian air defenses.
The attack reportedly crippled approximately 34% of Russia’s long-range strategic bomber fleet, including Tu-95 “Bear” and Tu-22M3 “Backfire” bombers that had been used to launch cruise missiles against Ukrainian infrastructure. Western officials have characterized the operation as a modern Trojan Horse, demonstrating Ukraine’s growing asymmetric capabilities against their larger adversary. Russian officials maintain their nuclear deterrence remains intact, though experts suggest repairs to damaged aircraft could take years.
Logistical Challenges at Anadyr
The Anadyr airbase, constructed during the Soviet era, has long served as a strategic monitoring post for U.S. military activity across the Bering Strait. While the facility regularly hosts strategic bomber rotations, maintaining permanent operations there presents significant logistical hurdles. The remote location requires all supplies to be delivered by airlift or during brief seasonal maritime windows when ice conditions permit shipping access. Maintenance of sophisticated aircraft like the Tu-160 becomes considerably more challenging in such isolated conditions.
Despite these difficulties, Russia appears to have determined that protecting its remaining Tu-160 fleet takes precedence. Recent Ukrainian successes have increased the importance of the Blackjack fleet, particularly as Russia’s next-generation stealth bomber program, known as PAK DA, faces delays and potential cancellation. Since 2022, Russia has managed to assemble only two new Tu-160 aircraft, underscoring production limitations that make each existing bomber increasingly valuable.
Strategic Implications
The relocation signals a significant shift in Russia’s strategic calculus. Moving bombers to a base just 410 miles from U.S. territory demonstrates both vulnerability and determination to protect remaining assets regardless of geopolitical optics. The timing of Ukraine’s attack coincided with the anniversary of Ukraine’s handover of strategic bombers to Russia under the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, adding symbolic weight to the operation.
Ukrainian officials have indicated that similar operations will continue, suggesting that Russia’s protective measures may need to extend beyond geographic relocation. For the immediate future, Russia’s most valuable strategic bombers will operate from one of their most remote bases, maintaining nuclear strike capability while sheltered from the innovative drone tactics that have altered the strategic balance in the ongoing conflict.
