A Tu-22 bomber was cold so they warmed it up....

Russian air base attacked on Saturday housed Tu-22 bombers, satellite images reveal

From Gianluca Mezzofiore, Eve Brennan, Ivana Kottasova and Olga Voitovych 

A Russian air base that came under attack on Saturday was used to house Tu-22M3 supersonic bombers, according to CNN analysis of satellite and social media images of the base.

Satellite images provided by Planet Labs and taken on August 8, show a number of Tu-22M3 bombers parked at the airfield in Soltsi inside Russia's northwest Novgorod region.

Another Planet Labs satellite image taken on August 21 appears to show charred ground where one Tu-22M3 was parked, while the rest of the parked aircrafts appear to have been moved.  

Two social media images geolocated by CNN show a similar aircraft on fire at the same Russian base.  

Some context: The Russian defense ministry had said earlier that Ukrainian drones attacked the airfield causing fire in the aircraft parking lot. Ukraine hasn’t claimed responsibility for this August 19 attack.

Ukraine on Monday confirmed it carried out a drone attack on Shaykovka air base in Russia's Kaluga region, located more than 200 kilometers (130 miles) northeast of the countries' shared border, which left "at least one aircraft damaged."

Ukrainian media reported that attacks on Russian bases over the past few days destroyed several aircrafts including two bombers, citing unnamed Ukrainian defense intelligence officials.  

Ukraine on Monday confirmed it carried out a drone attack on Shaykovka air base in Russia's Kaluga region, located more than 200 kilometers (130 miles) northeast of the countries' shared border, which left "at least one aircraft damaged."

“The damage or even destruction of two Tu-22M3 aircraft will not generate militarily significant effects in itself,” the Institute for the Study of War said. Citing criticism by Russian military bloggers, ISW said “such deep attacks support larger Ukrainian efforts to degrade Russian morale.” 

The aircraft is capable of performing nuclear strikes as well as conventional attacks and anti-ship missions, according to open-source intelligence company Jane’s.