Ukraine said on Friday that it shot down a Russian long-range bomber that used to fire cruise missiles into its territory, the first such incident since Russia invaded the country two years ago.
In a statement, the Ukrainian military said that the Tu-22M3 strategic bomber was destroyed by anti-aircraft missile units of the air force in collaboration with the country’s defence intelligence.
“The Ukrainian Air Force shot down the enemy Tu-22M3 strategic bomber, which Russia used to attack Ukrainian cities,” the statement said.
The statement also said that Ukrainian forces repelled another massive air attack, shooting down 29 aerial targets, including 2 Kh-101/Kh-555 cruise missiles, 14 Shahed UAVs, 11 Kh-59/Kh-69 guided air missiles, and 2 Kh-22 cruise missiles.
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It said that one member of the bomber’s crew died after it crashed over the southern Stavropol region while flying back to base, adding that the search for the fourth crewman was continuing.
“A Russian armed forces Tu-22M3 aircraft crashed in the Stavropol region while returning to the base aerodrome after performing a combat mission. The pilots ejected,” the state-run TASS news agency quoted Russia’s defence ministry as saying.
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