WarMonitor on Nostr: Several channels linked to Ukrainian intelligence reported that the Russian Air Force ...

Several channels linked to Ukrainian intelligence reported that the Russian Air Force experienced major technical failures during its latest missile attack on Ukraine between September 2–3. Of the 40 air-launched cruise missiles planned for strikes on cities in western Ukraine, only about eight were successfully launched.

According to the Telegram channel Dossier Spy, the Tu-160 “Ivan Yarygin” (Tail Number 04) was unable to fire its missiles due to a malfunction in the launch system, while another Tu-160, “Alexey Plokhov” (Tail Number 16), was struck by lightning mid-mission, damaging the cockpit glazing and forcing the crew to abort and return to base. A third aircraft, of an unspecified type, reportedly failed to take off from Engels Airbase altogether.