On 25 February, Ukraine’s Air Force reported an alarming development when four Russian Tu-95MS “Bear-H” bombers launched cruise missiles from the Saratov region, near Engels, Russia. The aim was clear: precision strikes on Ukrainian targets. However, things took an unexpected turn.
Rather than reaching their intended military targets, the missiles malfunctioned mid-flight. Instead, they crashed in northern Ukraine’s Zhytomyr region, causing significant damage but failing to hit any military or strategic sites. This incident raised serious questions about the reliability of Russia’s cruise missile capabilities.
The State Emergency Service of Ukraine (DSNS) shared distressing footage showing the aftermath of a Russian Kh-101 cruise missile striking a private residential area in Zhytomyr Oblast. The missile’s intended target, a military site, was nowhere to be found. Instead, the strike caused devastation in a civilian area, leaving nothing but destruction in its wake.
In response to the attack, Poland swiftly increased its air defences. The Polish Armed Forces’ Operational Command confirmed that all available forces, including ground-based air defence systems and radar reconnaissance units, were placed on high alert as a precautionary measure.
This attack highlights Russia’s ongoing use of long-range strategic bombers to target Ukrainian territory. However, the failure of the missiles to hit their mark brings into question the reliability of Russia’s cruise missile technology. What was supposed to be a precision strike instead turned into a reminder of the significant challenges Russia faces in maintaining the effectiveness of its missile arsenal amidst ongoing conflict.
