Putin moves nuclear bombers to airbase near Finland and Norway borders as tensions rise over possible use of nukes
- Putin has gradually increased number of strategic bombers at Olenya air base
- There were none on August 12, up to four Tu-160s on August 21, to 11 now
- Increase of bombers comes amid concerns Putin could use nuclear weapons
Vladimir Putin has again increased his strategic nuclear bombers at an airbase near the Finnish and Norwegian borders, say reports.
The move comes amid high tension over whether he plans an atomic attack in Europe and his on-going invasion of Ukraine.
He has gradually increased the number of strategic bombers at Olenya air base from none on August 12, to four Tu-160s on August 21, to 11 now.
Vladimir Putin has again increased his strategic nuclear bombers at an airbase near the Finnish and Norwegian borders, say reports. Pictured: A satellite image taken on October 7, 2022 shows seven Tu-160 strategic bombers (marked in red) and four Tu-95 aircraft (marked in yellow) at the Olenya airbase, Russia Kola Peninsula
Pictured: Four Tu-160 ‘Blackjacks’ seen at Olenya air base around August, 21 2022 by an Israeli intelligence firm ImageSat Intl
Pictured: The Four Tu-160 ‘Blackjacks’ (at the base since August 21, 2022) were joined by three Tu-95 ‘Bears’ by September 25
There are seven Tu-160 strategic bombers (marked in red on newly released satellite images) and four Tu-95 aircraft (marked in yellow) at the facility on the Kola Peninsula.
The disclosure comes from Faktisk.no – an independent Norwegian fact checking website – which obtained the data from American satellite operator Planet.
The buildup above the Arctic Circle follows international concern when on two weeks ago when The Jerusalem Post reported on an ‘unusual deployment’ of seven nuclear bombers at the airbase.
This was highlighted by Israeli intelligence firm ImageSat International which detected the ‘irregular presence’ of TU-160s and TU-95s.
The Armageddon planes are usually stationed at Engels Air Base, 450 miles south-east of Moscow.
The bombers are close to the border of NATO member Norway, and soon-to-become Alliance member, Finland.
They can also be used with conventional weapons.
Pictured: A satellite image of the Olenya air base, Russian Kola peninsula
A Tu-160 ‘Blackjack’ strategic bomber on static display at MAKS 2013
A Tu-95MS Bear H RF-94130 pictured off Scotland in 2014
There is evidence the deployment at 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 airbase was empty on 12 August.
The Tu-160 – aka White Swan, but known in the West as Blackjack – has been the workhorse of Russia’s strategic missile forces since Soviet times.
The super-loud Tu-95, known as Bear, is the only propeller-powered strategic bomber still in operational use today.
The aircraft first flew 70 years ago.
Putin has deployed the Tu-95s to buzz Britain at moments of high tension, for example in February this year when the Royal Air Force scrambled Typhoon fighters to escort two Bears off northern Scotland.
