BERLIN: A Ukrainian drone attack last weekend likely damaged around 10 percent of Russia’s strategic bomber fleet and hit some of the aircraft as they were being prepared for strikes on Ukraine, a senior German military official said. “According to our assessment, more than a dozen aircraft were damaged, TU-95 and TU-22 strategic bombers as well as A-50 surveillance planes,” German Major General Christian Freuding said in a YouTube podcast reviewed by Reuters ahead of its publication later on Saturday.

US officials estimate around 10 Russian aircraft were destroyed in weekend drone attacks, but it was still highly significant.

Russian warplanes were damaged but not destroyed in a June 1 attack by Ukraine, and they will be restored, Russia's deputy foreign minister said.