Military expert Oleksandr Kovalenko discussed the issue, Obozrevatel reports.A recent Ukrainian drone attack on the Beriev Aviation Scientific-Technical Complex in Taganrog marked the most successful strike yet against Russian aviation infrastructure. The November 25 operation destroyed at least two irreplaceable aircraft: an A-60 flying laboratory and an A-100LL experimental plane, while also damaging one or more Tu-95MS strategic bombers.Despite Russian propaganda dismissing these losses as insignificant, military analysts emphasized the devastating impact on Moscow's aviation capabilities. The A-60, based on an Il-76MD transport aircraft, was a unique platform designed for testing laser weapons systems. Originally conceived in the 1970s, only two examples were ever built. After the first was destroyed in a 1989 fire, the second remained Russia's sole operational laser weapons testbed—until Ukrainian forces eliminated it.The A-100LL loss may prove even more consequential for Russia's military modernization efforts. This flying laboratory was essential for developing the A-100 early warning aircraft, intended to replace the aging A-50 radar planes. Without this testbed, Russia's ability to advance its airborne early warning capabilities faces severe setbacks.Ukraine's campaign against Russian strategic aviation has been methodical and increasingly effective. Since the full-scale invasion began in 2022, verified losses include ten Tu-95MS bombers, eleven Tu-22M3 bombers, and one Tu-160 strategic bomber. The Ukrainian Security Service Spider's Web operation delivered the most devastating blow, though exact losses from that mission remain disputed among military analysts.The Tu-95MS fleet has been particularly hard hit. Russia possessed approximately 60 of these bombers at the war's start, with roughly 30 in flyable condition. Current estimates suggest fewer than 20 remain operational, with some sources indicating as few as ten are combat-ready. This severely constrains Russia's ability to launch mass Kh-101 cruise missile strikes, as these bombers serve as the primary delivery platform.Russia cannot manufacture new Tu-95MS aircraft, making each loss permanent. The Tu-22M3 production exists only in name, with Russia assembling "new" aircraft from unfinished Soviet-era fuselages rather than building from scratch. The Tu-160 fleet faces similar constraints, with only ten of sixteen aircraft in flyable condition.The attrition extends beyond combat losses. Russian strategic bombers are experiencing mechanical failures at increasing rates. In September, a Tu-160 failed to launch its Kh-101 missiles during a mass strike due to launch mechanism malfunction, highlighting the deteriorating condition of these aging platforms.Ukraine continues targeting Russian air bases with long-range drones, systematically degrading Moscow's strategic aviation capabilities. As losses mount and Russia proves unable to replace destroyed aircraft, analysts suggest the strategic bomber fleet may be eliminated before the war concludes—leaving Russia's nuclear triad permanently weakened regardless of the war's outcome.