The damaged Tu-142 SBS aircraft had been in storage since 2011 (photo)
The two Tu-142 aircraft, which were struck by the Unmanned Systems Forces, had been in long-term storage since 2011 at the Taganrog Aviation Plant. They were moved over the course of the past month.
This is the conclusion reached by Militariy.
Four Tu-142s of two versions—maritime relay (MR) and anti-submarine (ASW)—are stored on the plant’s grounds. All of them had been in storage for a long time and had not been moved until April 17, 2026, inclusive.
From April 27 to May 19—that is, over the course of one month—the Russians moved three of the four Tu-142s from their parking area closer to the main hangar of the aircraft plant and onto auxiliary runways.
The reason for these movements is unknown. This could be interpreted as potential decommissioning work for subsequent restoration and repair, or preparation for a flight to a safer location for the aircraft.
Another reason could be the use of the aircraft in storage as decoys for attacks by the Ukrainian Security and Defense Forces.
It is known that at least four Tu-142 aircraft have been stored on the plant’s premises since 2011, three of which can be identified as:
- Tu-142MK with tail number “Red 71”
- Tu-142MR with tail number “red 25”
- Tu-142MR with tail number “black 14”
The fourth Tu-142 could not be identified.
The video first shows the Tu-142MR being hit, and in the next frame, it is already on fire. It can be identified by the distinctive arrangement of elements on the vertical stabilizer.
The other damaged aircraft is a Tu-142MK, which can also be identified by its vertical stabilizer, which differs from that of the MR.
Thus, neither of the two damaged Tu-142 aircraft was in active service with Russian forces, and the reasons for their movement are not precisely known.
On the night of May 29, drones attacked fuel infrastructure facilities in Russia, resulting in fires at an oil depot in Armavir and at the port of Taganrog.
Over the past 24 hours, 291 combat engagements were recorded on the front lines between the Ukrainian Defense Forces and Russian troops, with the most intense fighting continuing in the Pokrovsk direction.
Over the past day, the Russian army lost another 1,430 soldiers in the war against Ukraine. Ukrainian defenders also destroyed dozens of artillery systems, hundreds of vehicles, and nearly 1,800 drones.
On the night of May 30, Russia launched a massive air attack on Ukraine, using missiles and hundreds of drones, but most of the targets were successfully neutralized by air defense forces.
