Recent operations against Russian Tu-22M3 strategic bombers have significantly reduced the possibility of Kh-22 missile attacks on Ukrainian territory. On April 19, the GUR, together with the Air Force, destroyed a Tu-22MZ bomber.
How many Tu-22M3 Russia has
The head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, Kirill Budanov, in a comment to reporters earlier told how many serviceable Tu-22s the enemy might have.
Budanov added that during operations at the Russian military airfields Soltsy and Shaikovka, two Russian aircraft were completely destroyed, two more — damaged.
Now watching
— If you ask how many Tu-22s there are, it will be just a few. They had about 31 operational Tu-22s left. Now 29, minus two more that will be under repair, that is, 27 (as of August 2023, Ed.). That is, there are not many that actually fly, — the head of the power steering drew attention.
He noted that the two damaged aircraft could be repaired by the occupiers over time.
Russian Tu-22M3 shot down on April 19
The Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense reported that on April 19 they managed to shoot down a Russian Tu-22M3 bomber, which was launching missiles at Ukraine on April 19. The Main Intelligence Directorate conducted a special operation in cooperation with the Air Force of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
The Tu-22MZ aircraft was shot down 300 km from Ukraine by the same means that had previously hit the Russian A-50 long-range radar detection and control aircraft.
The Tu-22MZ bomber was able to fly to the area of Stavropol (RF), where it fell and crashed.
This is the first successful destruction of a Tu-22MZ strategic bomber in the air during a combat mission during a full-scale war.
