VLAD’S VALKYRIES
Putin’s nuclear bombers take flight in show of force as Russia ‘readies nuke missiles to strike West’
VLADIMIR Putin sent up nuclear bombers today in the first known patrol since his strategic fleet was hit by a Ukrainian drone attack nine days ago.
The Russian dictator ordered two Tu-95MS planes - known as Bears - to take to the skies over the Sea of Japan in a show of firepower.
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A video showed the two nuke bombers in the sky accompanied by Su-30SM and Su-35S escorts.
Moscow's Defence Ministry said all flights by Russian Aerospace Forces were carried out in compliance with international regulations.
The Tu-95 fleet is an integral part of the Kremlin's nuclear armoury - but the planes have also been used to launch devastating non-atomic missiles causing large-scale destruction in Ukraine.
However, two of the fleet at Engels-2 air base, near Saratov, were damaged in a Ukrainian drone strike, according to Russian officials.
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Two servicemen sustained wounds in the attack.
Videos showed a huge flash at the high-security airbase used by Putin’s strategic fleet.
In the wake of the strike, at least six strategic bombers were moved from the base in Engels to an unknown destination.
It comes after Putin sent three Russian MiG-31 warplanes designed to carry deadly Kinzhal nuclear-capable hypersonic missiles to Belarus on Tuesday.
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Kinzhal missiles have a range that would allow them to hit Britain from Belarus air space.
The 24ft Kinzhal can carry conventional or nuclear warheads - and Russia boasts the missile has no match among Western defences.
The hypersonic Kinzhal has a range of 1,250 miles and its conventional version was deployed for the first time against Ukraine in March.
Until now, Belarus dictator Alexander Lukashenko refused Putin’s demands to commit forces to the war.
But the move to allow the arrival of the war plans showed a weakening stance towards the despot's relentless bombardment of the country.
It comes after Putin renewed his nuke threat against the West today.
Footage showed a huge Russian Yars rocket able to hit the UK and the US being loaded into a silo at a base near Moscow.
The intercontinental ballistic missile has a 7,500 mile range and when nuclear-armed is reportedly 12 times more destructive than the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima.
It was seen in Russian propaganda being installed in a launch-pad using a special transport and loading unit - but there is no indication of any order for an imminent launch.
Putin was seen in late October overseeing the launch of a similar Yars nuclear missile on a mock attack on the West amid high tension in the war with Ukraine.
In the drills, Russia reportedly practised its response to a Western nuclear attack and were aimed at targeting the UK and US.
Fears are have been raised that the 70-year-old tyrant could detonate a nuke as his forces face mounting loses in the disastrous Ukraine war.
Russia is building up to more nuclear showboating as it marks the annual Strategic Missile Forces Day on 17 December.
Missile force commander Colonel Alexei Sokolov made clear the latest exercise was aimed at sending a message to the West, with both the UK and US within range.
“The importance of this operation lies in the fact that the missile will be put on combat duty on schedule,” he said.
“The homeland will get another nuclear missile weapon, which will make it possible to solve any tasks at the strategic level.”
Combat engineer Vadim Vyazovsky told TV Zvezda, the Russian defence ministry’s own channel: “I feel proud of Russia that my country is putting such products into service so that the Motherland can sleep well.”
The Kozelsk missile base is currently undergoing modernisation and a revamp, said reports.
The Yars is a modification of the Topol-M missile system, and was first deployed in 2009.
Video released during October's drills showed armed forces personnel in front of computers launching a one of the missiles.
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Other footage showed a Sineva intercontinental ballistic missile being fired from a submarine in the Barents Sea and a TU-95 bomber that launched cruise missiles.
The Kremlin said that all tasks set for the exercise were fulfilled and all the missiles that were test-fired reached their designated targets.
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