Split in half from space: satellite images confirm Ukraine's 800km drone strike destroyed an irreplaceable Russian Tu-95 bomber

Satellite imagery has been cited as confirmation that Ukraine carried out an 800-kilometer drone strike that destroyed a Russian Tu-95 strategic bomber at Engels-2 air base. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the strike after Russia had not produced independent proof, and the article says open-source intelligence group AviVector published satellite images corroborated by Planet Labs images obtained by Radio Free Europe & Radio Liberty’s investigative project, Schemes. The imagery reportedly shows a destroyed Tu-95MS on the tarmac. The Tu-95MS is described as Russia’s primary platform for carrying Kh-101 cruise missiles, hauling up to six missiles internally, with the Tu-95MSM able to carry up to eight externally. The article says the attack matters because it demonstrates deep strike capability and targets a remote airfield, while Russia reportedly had only about 60 aircraft of this type in operation.