Kyiv Claims Responsibility for Shooting Down Russian Bomber; Moscow Attributes Incident to Technical Malfunction

Ukraine has alleged responsibility for downing a Russian Tu-22M3 strategic bomber for the first time, despite Russia’s defense ministry attributing the incident to a technical issue.

The defense ministry stated on April 19 that the bomber went down while returning to an airfield in the Stavropol region of southwestern Russia after completing a combat mission, possibly due to a technical malfunction.

The Tu-22M3, a long-range strategic bomber, is usually used for targeting sea and ground-based objectives with guided missiles and aerial bombs.

Stavropol Governor Vladimir Vladimirov mentioned in a social media post that one out of four crewmembers had been killed, and another was still missing.

Stavropol is situated in Russia’s North Caucasus region, approximately 185 miles from Ukraine’s eastern border.

The Russian Tu-22M3 bomber can operate over a distance of 3,000 miles and carry long-range munitions, such as hypersonic missiles.

Reports from Kyiv and its Western allies suggest that Russia frequently deploys the Tu-22M3 for launching attacks deep into Ukrainian territory.

As per a recent assessment by the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies, Russia’s air force possesses 57 Tu-22M3s.

Kyiv Claims Responsibility

Sources from Kyiv quickly claimed responsibility for the incident, stating that Ukrainian anti-aircraft fire had brought down the aircraft.

Mykola Oleshchuk, commander of Ukraine’s air force, declared, “For the first time, anti-aircraft missile units of the Air Force, in collaboration with the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine, destroyed a Tu-22M3 long-range strategic bomber.”

He further asserted that the doomed bomber was armed with long-range Kh-22 cruise missiles, which were allegedly utilized by Russian forces to target peaceful Ukrainian cities.

The Kh-22 missile is capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear warheads.

As per an intelligence source cited by Reuters, Kyiv deployed a modified Soviet-era S-200 air defense missile to shoot down the aircraft, although the source did not disclose the launch location.

According to Kyiv’s military intelligence agency, the bomber was engaged in long-range attacks on Ukrainian targets when it was shot down.

Earlier in the day, Russia conducted a substantial missile strike on Ukraine’s central Dnipropetrovsk region.

This strike resulted in the deaths of at least eight individuals in and around the city of Dnipro, in addition to damaging several residential structures, local authorities reported.

Russia has intensified its aerial offensives on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure in recent weeks, targeting multiple locations far beyond the roughly 620-mile frontline.

Contrarily, Russia’s defense ministry stated that the crashed bomber did not carry any munitions at the time of the incident in Stavropol.

The Epoch Times could not independently verify the claims made by either party.

Airfields under Attack

In previous instances, Ukrainian drones have targeted Russian airfields where long-range bombers are stationed.

Last August, British military intelligence alleged that a Russian Tu-22M3 was “highly likely destroyed” in an attack on a base in the northwestern Novgorod region.

In late 2022, three airbases in central Russia were assaulted by drones of unknown origin, resulting in damage to at least two aircraft and the deaths of three servicemen.

One of the targeted airbases, situated deep within Russian territory, was known for hosting long-range strategic bombers capable of carrying nuclear warheads.

Although Kyiv did not publicly claim responsibility for these attacks, they were widely viewed as successful by Ukrainian military officials at the time.

On April 17, Kyiv’s intelligence directorate informed local media outlets that Ukrainian drones had targeted an aircraft production facility in Russia’s west-central Tatarstan region.

Located in Kazan, Tatarstan, the facility reportedly manufactures long-range bombers, including the Tu-22M3.

Subsequently, Russia’s defense ministry confirmed the attack on a “facility” in Tatarstan but asserted that the drones were neutralized before causing any damage.

In early 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine under the premise of safeguarding Russian speakers in the eastern Donbas region and halting NATO’s further expansion.

Seven months later, following controversial referendums, Moscow effectively annexed four regions in eastern and southern Ukraine, considering them Russian Federation territory.

Consequently, Kyiv, with backing from its NATO allies, has committed to combatting Russia’s more massive forces until reclaiming all four regions.

Reuters contributed to this report.