Putin moves nuclear bombers to air base near the borders with Finland and Norway
Putin moves atomic bombers to air base near Finland and Norway borders as tensions mount over possible use of nuclear weapons
- Putin has gradually increased the number of strategic bombers at Olenya Air Force Base
- There were none on August 12, until four Tu-160s on August 21 to 11 now
- Bomber boom comes amid concerns Putin could use nuclear weapons
Russian President Vladimir Putin has again expanded its strategic nuclear bombers at an airbase near the Finnish and Norwegian borders, reports say.
The move comes amid high tensions over whether he plans to launch a nuclear strike in Europe and his ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
He has gradually increased the number of strategic bombers at Olenya Air Force Base from none on August 12 to four supersonic Tu-160s on August 21 to 11 now.
Vladimir Putin has again expanded its strategic nuclear bombers at an airbase near the Finnish and Norwegian borders, reports say. Pictured: A satellite image taken on October 7, 2022 shows seven Tu-160 strategic bombers (highlighted in red) and four Tu-95 aircraft (highlighted in yellow) at Olenya Air Force Base, Russia Kola Peninsula
Pictured: Four Tu-160 ‘Blackjacks’ seen at Olenya Air Force Base around August 21, 2022 by an Israeli intelligence firm ImageSat Intl
Pictured: The four Tu-160 ‘Blackjacks’ (at base since August 21, 2022) were joined by three Tu-95 ‘Bears’ on September 25
There are seven Tu-160 strategic bombers (marked in red on newly released satellite imagery) and four Tu-95 aircraft (marked in yellow) at the facility on the Kola Peninsula – found in the far northwest of Russia, and in the Arctic Circle.
The disclosure comes from Faktisk.no – an independent Norwegian fact-checking website – which obtained the data from US satellite operator Planet.
The build-up above at the air base follows international concerns over another report two weeks ago, when The Jerusalem Post revealed there was an “unusual deployment” of seven nuclear bombs at the air base.
This was highlighted by Israeli intelligence agency ImageSat International, which discovered the “irregular presence” of TU-160s and TU-95s.
Armageddon’s planes are usually based at Engels Air Base, 450 miles southeast of Moscow.
The bombers are located close to the borders of NATO member Norway, and soon to be Alliance member, Finland.
They can also be used with conventional weapons.
Pictured: A satellite image of Olenya Air Force Base, Kola . Russian Peninsula
A Tu-160 ‘Blackjack’ strategic bomber on static display at MAKS 2013
A Tu-95MS Bear H RF-94130 pictured for Scotland in 2014
There is evidence that the deployment in Olanya has Kh-101 cruise missiles for possible use against targets in Ukraine.
The Kh-101 can carry conventional or nuclear warheads.
The runway at Olenya Air Base was empty on August 12.
The Tu-160 – also known as White Swan, but known in the West as Blackjack – is a supersonic strategic bomber that has been the workhorse of Russia’s strategic missile forces since Soviet times.
The super-loud Tu-95, better known as Bear, is the only propeller-driven strategic bomber still operational today.
The plane first flew 70 years ago.
Putin has used the Tu-95s to buzz Britain in moments of high tension, such as in February this year when the Royal Air Force shuffled Typhoon fighters to escort two Bears from the north of Scotland.
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