Satellite image shows unusual tire tactics and fake bait aircraft that fail to save Russian bombers from Ukrainian drones

• Satellite images show Russia attacking Ukraine's air base on Sunday in an attempt to use deceptive tactics.

• These strategies include placing the tire on the wings and drawing fake bait aircraft on the ground.

• This is a script Moscow used throughout the war, trying to protect its air base.

Satellite images of four Russian air bases attacked by Ukraine on Sunday show how Moscow tried to use deceptive strategies to protect its strategic bomber fleet.

The images, captured by Maxar Technologies, a U.S. commercial satellite imaging company and obtained by Business Insider, show that Russia covered many bombers and other objects in the days and weeks before its operations in Ukraine.

The Moscow troops also drew fake planes on the apron and used debris to make bait planes.

The SBU of the Ukraine, the Internal Security Agency, said it hit 41 Russian aircraft in bold operation using a small four-wheel drive drone, which was built for more than 18 months. These aircraft include A-50 onboard early warning and control aircraft, AN-12 transport vehicles, IL-78 refueling tankers, and TU-95, TU-22M3 and TU-160 bombers.

These drones attacked the entire Russian air bases, especially Belaya in the Irkutsk region, Oriona in the Murmansk region, Digilivo in the Rhea region and Ivanovo in the Ivanovo region. Ukrainian Kazakhs in the Amur region were reportedly targeted but were not hit.

At various points before the attack, different types of deception strategies can be seen in satellite images from all five sites.

Open source intelligence analyst Brady Africk told BI that Moscow's troops “since the start of the full Russian invasion, Moscow's troops have added flat bait aircraft to many air bases and placed tires on parked aircraft to confuse the target system of Ukrainian weapons.”

Avrik said new satellite images suggest that Russia also “places debris on flat baits and places solid objects on the ground in the rough shape of the aircraft,” “which seems to be “apparently trying to increase the chance of misleading Ukrainian weapons.”

Avrik says Russia's flat bait aircraft – in some cases, they're just Simple Contours; in other cases they look like aircraft they intend to be similar – not easily seen in radar-based satellite images, Ukrainian troops are considered usable.

“It's obvious from the number of aircraft destroyed, even though Russia deceived Ukraine's attacks on these bases were still very successful,” he said.

New video of the attack shows the drone hitting a plane with tires.

“Destructive blow” to Aeroflot

The attacks in Ukraine are complex and are very different from any other deep strike at scope and scale. SBU said the plan started a year and a half ago. The agency smuggled explosive four-wheel drive drones to Russia and sent wooden containers to accommodate them.

In Russia, operators hid drones in containers that were placed on trucks and drove to a location near the air base. On Sunday, the top of the container was opened remotely, allowing the drone to fly out and attack the target at the same time.

The attack took out one-third of Russia's strategic cruise missile operators, causing more than $7 billion in losses, SBU said. Lieutenant General Vasyl Malyuk, the head of the agency, called it a “devastating blow” to Moscow Airlines and a “serious slap” on the Kremlin.

BI was unable to independently verify details of the action report, including how many aircraft were damaged or destroyed and the cost of the loss. Russia's Ministry of Defense admitted it, but downplayed the attack.

Throughout the conflict, bombers targeted at targets have been used to destroy Ukraine's strikes. These aircraft can be long distances and carry heavy loads.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that 117 One Person Perspective (FPV) drones, many operators were involved in large-scale attacks. He said the plan and organization were “fully executed” and called it “absolutely unique operation.”

This attack highlights the increasing role of cheap drones and surprise games in modern warfare. One of the air bases hit by Belaya is 2,500 miles from the Ukrainian border, indicating Kiev's hiking distance and its ability to surpass Russia's defense.

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