In brief
Anatolii Khrapchynskyi links the relocation to Ukraine’s long-range strike capabilities. He says Russia is seeking to preserve the aircraft that underpin the airborne component of its nuclear triad.
Russia’s relocation of strategic aviation to the Far East is a forced response to Ukraine’s long-range capabilities, defence industry development director and reserve Air Force officer Anatolii Khrapchynskyi said on Radio NV, according to UNIAN’s November 9 report.
Khrapchynskyi described Ukrainka airbase in Russia’s Amur region as the best current option for preserving the aircraft while providing maintenance and equipment. He said Ukrainian strikes on fuel facilities, storage sites and aircraft had deprived Russia of the ability to use Engels-2 airbase in the Saratov region. UNIAN did not provide independent verification of the base’s condition.
He warned that intensive wartime use of strategic aviation could threaten the airborne component of Russia’s nuclear triad, which comprises air-, land- and sea-based nuclear delivery capabilities. This was his assessment of a possible risk. UNIAN did not specify when the aircraft moved, how many were relocated or when he made the comments.
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