Russia’s Tu-22 M3 Bomber Comes ‘Crashing Down’ After Bombing Run; Ukraine Quickly Claims Shootdown

After a spate of deadly air strikes carried out by Russia in the past few days, the Ukrainian forces might have exacted their revenge by taking down a vaunted Tu-22M3 bomber used to launch long-range missiles on Ukraine.

The Ukrainian government claimed on April 19 that it had shot down a Tupolev Tu-22M Backfire bomber belonging to the Russian air force.

If confirmed, it would be the first loss of the Soviet-era bomber in the air. The crash took place in the morning, right after an attack on Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.

Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk said, “For the first time, the anti-aircraft missile units of the (Ukrainian) Air Force, in cooperation with Ukraine’s Main Directorate of Intelligence, destroyed a Tu-22M3 long-range strategic bomber – the carrier of Kh-22 cruise missiles, which the Russian terrorists use to attack peaceful Ukrainian cities.”

The Russian plane crashed in the Krasnogvardeysky District of Stavropol Krai, according to Governor Vladimir Vladimirov. One pilot died in the crash, while two managed to eject. At the time of writing this report, two crew members were missing. 

The video of the crash was subsequently published on social media. The Russian bomber could be seen on fire and in a flat spin as it came down.

Later, another video was released by the Ukrainians where the troops could be seen coordinating a mission to shoot the bomber in the air. The bomber was reportedly returning to base after carrying out a strike.

Denying that the aircraft was shot down by Ukraine, the Russian Defense Ministry stated that the aircraft crashed as a result of a “technical malfunction” while returning to its main airport following a combat mission.

However, it did not provide any evidence supporting its claims, much like the Ukrainian Intelligence Agency (GUR), which is allegedly behind the shootout. Several Ukrainian cities have been targeted by Russian air force Tu-22M missiles, resulting in numerous injuries and fatalities. 

As per some preliminary reports, the Ukrainian intelligence agency shot down a rare Russian Air Force Beriev A-50 radar plane on February 23 using the same missile that it used to attack the bomber. This means the missiles used were either a Patriot or an S-200, which has recently shot to fame with some high-value interceptions.

The Tu-22M3 is a supersonic long-range strategic bomber developed during the Cold War by the Soviet Union to threaten giant US aircraft carriers and warships. Now, these bombers, armed with heavy anti-ship missiles, are regularly used by Russian forces to carry out devastating strikes in Ukraine, including a heavy bombardment of Mariupol in 2022 using unguided bombs.

The Tu-22M3 entered service in 1989 in its final configuration. The Tu-22M3 can carry a variety of weaponry, such as cruise missiles, anti-ship missiles, and bombs, and has a range of nearly 6,800 kilometers (4,200 miles). It can have speeds of up to Mach 1.88 (2,200 km/h or 1,370 mph) at high altitudes and has a ceiling of 13,000 meters (42,650 feet).

The shootdown of this bomber is significant as it is the first bomber that Ukrainian air defenses have struck down after at least two dozen Su-34 fighter bombers were reportedly obliterated in over two weeks between February and March this year.

Tu-22M3 Have Been A Target For A While 

The military and security services of Ukraine have set their sights on the bombers because of the danger that the Tu-22M bombers present to its power infrastructure as well as its civilians.

In April 2022, Russian Tu-22M bombers crossed into Ukrainian airspace and released unguided bombs on Ukrainian forces in the besieged port city, marking the first time Moscow used long-range bombers in the conflict. Before the Mariupol raid, the Tu-22Ms assaulted Ukraine while staying inside the Russian airspace, using long-range cruise missiles.