Kyiv Takes Credit for Downed Russian Bomber; Moscow Blames ‘Technical’ Issue

Strategic bomber crashes in Stavropol region, killing at least one crewmember, according to Russia’s defense ministry.

A view of a Tu-22M3 bomber of the Russian air force seen from the cockpit of another such plane during a training flight on Feb. 5, 2022. Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP

Ukraine has claimed to have downed a Russian Tu-22M3 strategic bomber—for the first time—after Russia’s defense ministry blamed the incident on a technical failure.

In an April 19 statement, the ministry said the bomber had crashed while returning to an airfield in Russia’s southwestern Stavropol region after having completed a combat mission.