THE WORLD - Russia resumes regular flights of strategic bombers
MOSCOW — Russian President Vladimir V. Putin on Friday announced reinstatement of the Soviet-era practice of having nuclear bombers routinely make long-distance flights that bring them within striking distance of the United States and its allies.
"Today just after midnight, 14 strategic missile aircraft, with support and fuel planes, took off from seven airfields across Russia," Putin said in televised remarks. "Combat duty began in which a total of 20 planes are taking part. From today, combat duty of this kind will be carried out on a regular basis."
He expressed hope that the West would show "understanding" for his decision.
The White House sought to downplay the Russian action, saying that the resumption of flights did not indicate a worsening of relations or present a new strategic threat.
Putin's announcement came at the end of a joint military exercise conducted by about 6,000 troops from Russia, China and four Central Asian states. Analysts said the exercise was meant to send a signal to the West that it should not try to interfere in the affairs of the participating countries.
The war games were observed by Putin, Chinese President Hu Jintao and other leaders of the six-member Shanghai Cooperation Organization, who held a summit in Kyrgyzstan on Thursday and then traveled to Russia's Chebarkul training ground for the exercises.
The resumption of regular strategic bomber flights appeared aimed at influencing domestic and international politics rather than affecting the military balance of power. It also reflected Russia's growing economic strength, with high oil prices boosting the country's ability to spend money on its military. Routine bomber flights were discontinued in 1992.
"What we see today is not a step in the resumption of the Cold War but some kind of a Cold War farce staged by President Putin," said Alexander Golts, a military analyst who writes for the Russian-language news website Yezhednevny Zhurnal.
"This would be a laughable farce but for one serious thing: It is a very dangerous farce. The strategic planes are up in the air. They may be carrying nuclear missiles or may not, which we will never know for sure, but this risk strongly exists."
Putin said the bombers would fly primarily "in the regions of our busy sea routes and economic zones." Russian strategic bombers can carry nuclear cruise missiles with ranges of at least 1,800 miles. He said that the bombers were scheduled to spend about 20 hours in the air Friday, and that they were being refueled in flight.
