Russian bomber mission aborted after Ukraine downs companion aircraft
After the Russian Tu-22M3 strategic long-range supersonic strategic bomber downing, another plane that was supposed to carry out a missile attack on Ukraine turned back, Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) spokesperson Andriy Yusov told Radio Liberty on April 19.
"Another plane following the Tu-22M3 had to turn back. This means that a number of missiles were not fired at Ukraine," Yusov said. He noted that the bomber was shot down 300 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, hailing it as a “landmark operation” and a significant victory for Ukrainian air defenses.
Earlier in the day, Ukrainian Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk reported the first downing of a Russian Tu-22M3 long-range supersonic strategic bomber, a carrier of Kh-22 cruise missiles.
The Russian Defense Ministry acknowledged the crash of the bomber in Russia's Stavropol Krai, Krasnogvardeisk district, claiming it was due to “technical malfunctions” after the aircraft had completed a "combat mission."
It was later announced that one of the bomber's four crew members had been found dead. His body was discovered by a search team.
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