A Russian Tu-22M bomber/Photo from open sources
On the night of April 19, one of the Tu-22M3 long-range bombers, which conducted a missile attack against Ukraine, was successfully shot down as a result of a special operation carried out by the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine in collaboration with the Air Force.
This information was disclosed by the press service of the Defense Intelligence, which provided some insights into the operation.
The intelligence service revealed that the enemy Tu-22M3 aircraft was intercepted and downed approximately 300 kilometers away from Ukraine, utilizing the same defensive measures previously deployed against the Russian A-50 long-range radar detection and control aircraft. According to media reports, the interception involved a long-range S-200 anti-aircraft missile system.
After being hit, the bomber managed to fly toward the Stavropol area but eventually crashed.
«This marks the first successful destruction of a strategic bomber in the air during a combat mission amidst Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. There will be a just retribution for every war crime committed against Ukraine», — emphasized the Defense Intelligence.
The Tu-22M3 aircraft are utilized by Russia to launch X-22 missiles. These strategic bombers of the Russian Aerospace Forces are stationed at the Mozdok military airfield in North Ossetia, near the border with the Stavropol Territory.
Earlier on the morning of April 19, a Tu-22M3 bomber-rocket carrier crashed in the Stavropol Territory of the Russian Federation. These aircraft are commonly used by Russia to carry out strikes against Ukraine. According to Russian intelligence, the pilots ejected, resulting in one crew member killed, two hospitalized, and the fourth still missing.
Lieutenant General Mykola Oleshchuk, the commander of the Air Force, stated that the Ukrainian Air Force’s anti-aircraft missile units, in collaboration with the Main Intelligence Directorate, had successfully neutralized a Russian Tu-22M3 cruise missile carrier for the first time. He also emphasized the urgent need for Ukraine to acquire additional resources, including missiles, to bolster the defense of its frontline territories against Russian aggression.