NewsDramatic crash of Russian bomber amid claims of Ukrainian downing

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.

In Russia, a Tu-22 bomber crashed. "It was shot down"
In Russia, a Tu-22 bomber crashed. "It was shot down"
Images source: © Telegram, Vladimir Vladimirov
Violetta Baran

19 April 2024 08:29

The crash of the strategic Tu-22M3 bomber was first announced by Vladimir Vladimirov, the governor of Stavropol Krai, on his Telegram channel. He reported that the aircraft met its fate in a field within the Krasnogvardeysky District.

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.

Vladimirov disclosed that the bomber's crew managed to eject before the crash. While three crew members were discovered alive yet injured, the search is ongoing for the fourth member.

"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.

The Russian Ministry of Defense refuted claims that the bomber was shot down, providing a brief account of the incident.
"In Stavropol, following the completion of a combat mission and on its return to the home airport, a Tu-22M3 aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces crashed. The pilots ejected," the ministry reported.

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.

Source: Telegram/Monitor/VladimirVladimirov, ria.ru
© Daily Wrap
·

Downloading, reproduction, storage, or any other use of content available on this website—regardless of its nature and form of expression (in particular, but not limited to verbal, verbal-musical, musical, audiovisual, audio, textual, graphic, and the data and information contained therein, databases and the data contained therein) and its form (e.g., literary, journalistic, scientific, cartographic, computer programs, visual arts, photographic)—requires prior and explicit consent from Wirtualna Polska Media Spółka Akcyjna, headquartered in Warsaw, the owner of this website, regardless of the method of exploration and the technique used (manual or automated, including the use of machine learning or artificial intelligence programs). The above restriction does not apply solely to facilitate their search by internet search engines and uses within contractual relations or permitted use as specified by applicable law.Detailed information regarding this notice can be found  here.