Dramatic crash of Russian bomber amid claims of Ukrainian downing
In Stavropol Krai, Russia, a Tu-22M3 strategic bomber crashed. Footage shared online captured the dramatic scene of the aircraft engulfed in flames as it plummeted. There are allegations that Ukrainian forces brought the plane down.
19 April 2024 08:29
The news was posted around 5 a.m. GMT following the cessation of an air raid alarm in Ukraine. Russian missile attacks that day targeted cities, including Dnipro and Odesa.
"Information is constantly being updated. I will continue to keep you posted. Please rely only on verified sources and official data," the governor urged.
Telegram's Monitor channel, known for monitoring Russian aviation, asserted that Ukrainian forces downed the aircraft. "This marks the first occasion Ukraine has hit a strategic aircraft in the air amid the Russian invasion," the channel stated, further sharing footage of the aircraft ablaze as it descended.
According to preliminary investigations, the ministry proposed that a "technical malfunction" caused the crash, highlighting that no ammunition was on board at the time.
Stavropol Krai lies in the Caucasus region in the southern expanse of European Russia. It shares a border to the north with the Rostov Region, a neighbour of Ukraine.