For the first time since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine more than two years ago, Ukrainian forces claim to have shot down a Russian long-range bomber that was responsible for launching cruise missiles into Ukrainian territory. The incident marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between the two countries.
In a historic development, Ukraine’s air force, working in conjunction with defense intelligence, successfully neutralized a Tu-22M3 long-range strategic bomber. This marks the first time such an action has been taken since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine over two years ago, as reported by news agency AFP.
Russian Bomber Goes Into Tailspin After Being Shot Down By Ukraine#Ukraine #Russia #UkraineAirForce #Tu22M3 #RussiaUkraineWar pic.twitter.com/m6wPPSref4
— The UnderLine (@TheUnderLineIN) April 19, 2024
According to a statement from the Ukrainian Defence Ministry, the Ukrainian Air Force successfully downed a Russian Tu-22M3 strategic bomber that had been targeting Ukrainian cities.
Additionally, Ukrainian forces repelled a large-scale air attack, shooting down a total of 29 aerial threats, including cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The engagement marks a significant development in the ongoing conflict between the two nations.
According to Russian authorities, one crew member lost their life when the plane crashed over the southern Stavropol region while returning to its base.
As stated by the state-run TASS news agency, a Russian Tu-22M3 military aircraft crashed in the Stavropol region while returning to the base aerodrome after completing a combat mission. The pilots successfully ejected from the aircraft.
Stavropol is a region located in Southern Russia, bordering Krasnodar Krai to the west, Rostov Oblast to the north, Kalmykia to the east, and all the republics of the North Caucasus to the south1. The plane crash occurred in the Krasnogvardeysky district, approximately 400 kilometers from the eastern edge of Crimea.
According to Ukraine’s defense ministry, the plane was shot down from a distance of approximately 300 kilometers away from Ukraine. Despite the damage, the bomber managed to fly to the Stavropol area before ultimately crashing.
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