BREAKING NEWS UPDATE: HOLY CR@P! Ukraine Destroys 40 Strategic Bombers across 4 Airbases! [REUPLOAD]

Hello Team

🎦 00:00-00:23⏩
Jonathan welcomes viewers to another ATP Geopolitics breaking news update on the Ukraine war. He highlights that Ukraine has just experienced one of its most successful periods in the conflict, with flames and smoke billowing as a result of their recent actions.

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Initial Russian Drone Attack on Ukraine

🎦 00:23-00:47⏩
Jonathan reports that Ukraine endured its largest drone attack overnight, with approximately 472 Russian drones entering Ukrainian airspace. While 385 were successfully intercepted, 87 drones reportedly got through, indicating a challenging night for Ukrainians.

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Ukraine's Retaliatory Drone Strikes on Strategic Bomber Air Bases

🎦 00:47-01:06⏩
Despite the Russian drone barrage, Ukraine launched an "insanely effective" counter-attack, conducting simultaneous drone strikes on two Russian strategic bomber air bases. This action is described as a significant retaliatory measure.

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Unprecedented Live Footage from Air Base Strikes

🎦 01:07-01:48⏩
Jonathan shares that live footage of the air base strikes is being fed back, which is an unprecedented development in the war. He notes the chaotic nature of breaking news but expresses excitement over the "outrageous" footage, suggesting Ukraine has found a clever way to obtain real-time feeds from drones flying thousands of kilometres away.

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Initial Reports and Identification of Struck Air Bases (Olenya and Belaya)

🎦 01:48-03:55⏩
Jonathan recounts initial reports that the Olenya Air Base near Murmansk (a crucial base for strategic bombers) had been hit. He then clarifies, based on differing footage, that a second air base, Belaya in Irkutsk, was also struck. Footage from Olenya showed smoke, while the Belaya footage depicted a different cloud, leading him to differentiate the attack locations. Reports indicated 10 explosions were heard at Olenya before fires broke out, suggesting facilities rather than just planes were hit.

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SBU Confirmation of Belaya (Irkutsk) and Olenya (Murmansk) Air Base Strikes

🎦 03:56-05:21⏩
Citing Special Kherson Cat, Jonathan confirms that Ukraine's SBU (Security Service of Ukraine) struck the Russian military airfield Belaya in the Irkutsk region (approx. 4,000 km from Ukraine) and the Olenya Air Base in the Murmansk region (approx. 1,800 km from Ukraine) simultaneously. These bases host Tu-95MS, Tu-160, and Tu-22M3 bombers equipped with KH-101, KH-545, and KH-55 cruise missiles, used for long-range strikes against Ukraine. The Belaya strike marks Ukraine's furthest drone attack of the war.

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Visual Evidence and FPV Drone Impact on Bombers

🎦 05:21-07:34⏩
Jonathan presents striking video footage, including drone reconnaissance from 4,000 km away, showing multiple bombers on fire at the air bases. He highlights particularly "phenomenal footage" of an FPV drone striking a strategic bomber directly. The footage clearly shows the bomber, which had tyres on its top (a common defence against drone strikes), exploding upon impact, with one wing appearing to fall to the ground. Jonathan notes the significant damage inflicted on several bombers and possibly a cargo plane.

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Confirmation of Four Russian Air Bases Attacked Simultaneously

🎦 07:35-10:43⏩, 12:40-13:09⏩, 13:51-14:04⏩, 15:53-15:56⏩, 16:36-16:43⏩, 21:05-21:12⏩
Jonathan confirms that reports from sources like BenniePie and Anton Geraschenko, as well as Russian aviation channels, indicate that four Russian long-range aviation air bases were attacked simultaneously: Belaya (Irkutsk), Olenya (Murmansk/Olengorsk), Ivanovo, and Diaghilev (Ryazan). The SBU states that aircraft are burning at all four airfields. This widespread, coordinated strike is described as "absolutely staggering" and should be "front page news all across the world." Jonathan notes that Engels 2 in Saratov, a historically problematic airfield, was not targeted but its aircraft took off as a security measure.

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The "Truck-Launched Drones" Modus Operandi

🎦 10:43-12:05⏩, 12:50-12:56⏩, 14:04-14:22⏩, 25:13-26:17⏩
Jonathan discusses a fascinating and clever tactic potentially used by Ukraine: launching FPV drones from trucks near the airfields. Reports, including from Anton Geraschenko, suggest that a truck driver was unknowingly instructed to drive to a location near Olenya Air Base, where drones were then released from the back of his lorry. This method allows Ukraine to overcome the challenge of getting controllable FPV drones close to distant air bases. Locals also reportedly recorded FPV drones flying overhead, further indicating local launch points. Jonathan notes that the Russians will likely implement stricter traffic control near air bases, similar to the Kerch Bridge incident, but highlights the ingenious "chicanery" involved, which could even inspire future movies.

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Strategic Impact and Unquantifiable Value of Destroyed Aircraft

🎦 11:37-12:23⏩, 17:34-18:02⏩, 20:32-20:52⏩, 26:30-27:53⏩
Jonathan, citing Shashank Joshi from The Economist, calls the operation a "remarkable achievement" demonstrating how far Ukraine's deep strike capabilities have come, even without U.S. intelligence. The SBU claims over 40 Russian bombers were hit, resulting in losses exceeding $2 billion. Jonathan emphasises that the value of these strategic bombers is not just monetary but also functional and irreplaceable due to sanctions and the long time it would take Russia to build new ones. He states that destroying such critical, difficult-to-replace assets provides a priceless benefit to Ukraine, reducing the number of cruise missiles aimed at their airspace. Jonathan expresses his satisfaction at reporting this positive news for Ukraine, as it generates momentum and conversation about Ukraine's successes.

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Russian Defensive Measures and Strategic Implications

🎦 18:08-18:42⏩, 21:30-21:37⏩
Following the strikes, all aircraft at Engels 2 Air Base in Saratov, a site previously targeted, reportedly took off as a security measure. Jonathan explains that aircraft on the ground are easy targets, and getting them airborne is a standard defensive protocol when attacks are anticipated. This forced defensive action further illustrates the impact and strategic success of Ukraine's drone attacks on Russian air capabilities.

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Operation Spider Web: The Ukrainian SBU's Success

🎦 19:48-20:10⏩, 20:22-20:31⏩
Anton Geraschenko states that this Ukrainian special operation is codenamed "Operation Spider Web," possibly referring to the intricate network of connected locations targeted. Ewan McDonald describes the "spectacular images" from this SBU operation to destroy enemy bomber aircraft, highlighting the scale of the damage inflicted. Jonathan views this as a "stunning performance by Ukraine" that puts momentum back in their favour.

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Future of Ukrainian Air Defence: Focus on Interceptor Drones

🎦 22:07-24:53⏩
Jonathan acknowledges the high volume of Russian drone production (up to 500 Shahed drones a day) and stresses Ukraine's need to aggressively target Russian manufacturing facilities. He highlights the growing importance of interceptor drones in Ukraine's air defence strategy. He notes a recent record where one unit took out 15 drones with interceptor drones, beyond the 385 shot down by conventional means. Jonathan believes interceptor drones offer a more robust countermeasure against Russian adaptations, as they are less susceptible to electronic warfare (especially with AI targeting) compared to other defence systems. He predicts Ukraine will massively focus on developing and deploying them, as they present a more difficult challenge for Russia to overcome.

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Wrap up

🎦 28:16-28:28⏩
Jonathan concludes the breaking news update, thanking viewers for tuning in and expressing his happiness at reporting such positive developments for Ukraine. He bids farewell, promising to speak to them soon.

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