Ukrainian strikes against Russian strategic aircraft are accepted as having occurred in this June 2025 exchange, but their effects remain unconfirmed. One participant reduces a reported figure of 37 percent to an estimate of roughly 5 percent permanently lost after repairable aircraft and parts recovery are considered. Another expects a somewhat higher loss because of the airframes' age and condition. The extent of the damage remains unknown, and the possibility that its full effects will never become public limits the assessment further.
Notable Point · 0:25-1:41
Why early bomber-loss claims need repairability checks
A provisional exchange separates reported Russian bomber losses from permanent write-offs, with disagreement over how ageing airframes affect repair prospects.