Indeed Verifiable has analyzed satellite images from Sunday, Monday and Tuesday showing the Russian airbase photographed from space.
The images from Planet Labs reveal a number of details that can probably be linked to what was a Ukrainian drone attack on the site.
The most important bombers in the Russian Air Force
Engelsbasen is the home base for a large number of strategic bombers of the type TU-95 and TU-160. These are the most important bombers in the Russian Air Force, and both types can be equipped with nuclear weapons.
There were 11 aircraft of these types that were deployed to Olenyabasen this autumn, 18 miles as the crow flies from the Norwegian border.
A picture from the Engels base from 08:00 Norwegian time shows a propeller-driven TU-95 surrounded by fire-retardant foam. Around the plane you can see a number of personnel, and what looks like several fire trucks.
– It has either burned in the plane or around it
There was no trace of foam at the site on Sunday, and the aircraft is in exactly the same position as in the Sunday photo.
– If it is covered with foam, it has either burned in the aircraft or it has burned around it, states air force expert and associate professor at the Norwegian Air Force School, Lars Peder Haga.
– It is also possible that there has been an electrical fire in the plane. It doesn’t look terribly burnt, but there has clearly been a fire here, he says.
PHOTO: The plane, which has been covered in foam, was in exactly the same position in this satellite image from Sunday morning. PHOTO: PLANET LABS / ACTUALLY VERIFIABLE.
– Can be interpreted as one or more important people have arrived at the base
A U.S. F-15C Eagle from the 12th Fighter Squadron at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage, Alaska, flies next to a Russian Tu-95 “Bear” bomber, right, during a Russian military exercise near the west coast of Alaska, Thursday, Sept. 28 2006. (AP Photo/US Air Force) Photo: AP
He also sees an important detail in the guest car park, at the very west end of the runway.
– An aircraft of the TU-134 type has appeared here. This is used as a VIP plane by the Russian Air Force, and it can be interpreted as one or more important people have come to the base to inspect the damage, adds Haga.
IMAGE: The aircraft on the right in the image is a TU-134, which the Russian Air Force uses as a VIP aircraft.
The supersonic TU-160 has been moved far away from the other aircraft
The aircraft has not been visible on other satellite images from the base in recent times.
Haga also points out that a supersonic TU-160 and a propeller-driven TU-95 have now been placed in a technical area at the very east of the airport, far away from the other aircraft. No aircraft have been observed here on satellite images in recent months.
– There could be several reasons for that. There is a facility directly east of the planes, which can be seen in connection with either the loading of weapons or it could be an area where planes receive technical maintenance, he says.
British intelligence: Two TU-95 aircraft were damaged
In total, Faktisk Verifiserbar has counted 17 TU-95 and 6 TU-160 at the airport on Tuesday morning.
Russia on Monday accused Ukraine of being behind a drone attack on the airport. Three people died and a number of others were injured, according to Russian authorities.
The British Ministry of Defense stated on Twitter on Tuesday morning that they have information that two TU-95 aircraft were damaged in the attack on Engels.
PHOTO: A powerful explosion hit the Engel air base 720 kilometers south-east of Moscow on the night of Monday. This image was recorded by a surveillance camera approx. 3 kilometers away from the airport. PHOTO: TELEGRAM.
46 miles as the crow flies from the border with Ukraine
In a press release, the Russian Ministry of Defense states that the Ukrainians attacked the Djagilevo airport in the Ryazan region and the Engels airport in the Saratov region.
Engels air base is located around 46 miles as the crow flies from the border with Ukraine. The front where the Ukrainian forces stand is approximately 60 miles away from the base.
The Russians claim that the drones used in Monday’s attack were shot down, but that debris fell and exploded on the runway.
Read the article on Faktisk.no
Tags: Faktisk .no satellite images Destroyed bomber Russian air base Ukrainian attack
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