Ukrainian drone destroyed Russian Tu-22M3 bomber, General Syrskyi says
Ukraine’s Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi revealed that a Ukrainian drone caused the destruction of a Russian Tu-22M3 strategic bomber, contradicting Moscow’s claim of a technical failure, in an interview with Lb.ua.
He said this in an interview with Lb.ua.
Ukrainian forces struck a $100 million Russian Tu-22M3 bomber just after it landed, leading to its destruction—an operation not reflected in last week’s General Staff loss reports.
Russia’s Defense Ministry had claimed the April 2 crash in Irkutsk Oblast during a routine flight stemmed from a technical glitch, reporting the pilot’s death and the crew’s ejection.
The supersonic, variable-sweep-wing aircraft is known as an “aircraft carrier killer” for its Kh-22 anti-ship missile capability.
The Tu-22M3, a Cold War-era mainstay of Russia’s long-range arsenal, was previously downed by Ukraine in April 2024, a joint effort by the Main Intelligence Directorate and Air Force.