British intelligence suggests that the Russian command will try to punish the officers who are considered responsible for the explosions at the air bases.

Russia will probably move strategic bombers to disperse at various air bases after the explosions at Engels and near Ryazan.

In particular, on December 5, many open sources reported on the explosions at the Engels air base in the Saratov region of Russia and at the Diaghilev air base near Ryazan. According to reports, two Tu-95 bombers were damaged at Engels and three people were killed in Diaghilev when a fuel tanker exploded.

“The causes of the explosions have not been confirmed. However, if Russia assesses the incidents as deliberate attacks, it will surely consider them as one of the most strategically significant failures of the defense system since its invasion of Ukraine,” the UK Ministry of Defense said in a statement with reference to the data. intelligence on Twitter.

In this regard, it is said that the places of explosions are located much deeper in Russia than previous places of similar explosions. Engels Air Base is located more than 600 km from the Ukrainian border and is the main operational base of Russian long-range aviation in the western part of Russia. This air base hosts more than 30 heavy strategic bombers.

These aircraft help maintain Russia’s nuclear deterrent and are often used to launch conventional cruise missiles over Ukraine.

At the same time, according to British intelligence, probably as a response to the explosions, Russian bombers will be temporarily moved to disperse various air bases.

In addition, British intelligence suggests that the Russian command will likely seek to establish and enforce severe punishment for those Russian officers deemed responsible for allowing these incidents.

“Cottons” at Russian air bases – what is known

Explosions rang out near Ryazan and Engels. Apparently, the airfields were attacked by drones. In turn, the Armed Forces stated that they “have not started anything yet.”

Andriy Yusov, the representative of the GUR, noted that the government of the aggressor country is responsible for the situation on the territory of Russia.

On December 6, the “cotton” parade continued – an unknown drone attacked the airfield in Kursk. Kursk Oblast Governor Roman Starovoyt said that an oil storage tank caught fire as a result of a drone attack.

In addition, analysts of the Institute for the Study of War assume that a series of explosions at strategic Russian airbases in Engels and near Ryazan were staged by Ukrainian forces.