An Expert Assessed The Crash Of A Tu-22M3 Bomber In Russia
- 16.06.2026, 14:13
This is the fourth aircraft of this type that Russia has lost in two years.
It was the Tu-22M3 strategic missile-carrying bombers that delivered the most powerful strikes on Ukrainian territory. This was stated by the head of the Ukrainian Center for Security and Cooperation Serhiy Kuzan during an appearance on Radio NV, while commenting on the Tu-22M3 crash that occurred on June 15 in the Irkutsk region of the Russian Federation.
Kuzan noted that it was precisely this type of aircraft that launched X-22 and X-32 missiles at Ukraine, which delivered powerful strikes on Ukrainian territory. According to him, it was precisely these single-use missiles, designed to destroy aircraft carriers, that Russia used to strike ground targets in Ukraine.
“This is an interesting trend, because the Tu-22M3 is classified as a strategic missile carrier,” he said, responding to a question about the four missile-carrying bombers of this type lost by the Russian Federation over the past two years.
The expert noted that the single-stage X-22 and X-32 missiles, which were launched from this type of bomber and have a larger warhead than the “Kalibrs” and “Iskanders,” caused destruction in Ukraine.
Kuzan also pointed out that the Tu-22M3 is part of Russia’s nuclear triad. According to him, despite Russian claims about repairing and modernizing its aircraft fleet, it will no longer have such strategic missile carriers. He also noted that this reduces Russia’s combat potential intended to counter the NATO fleet.
“Such a loss has provided significant assistance to the entire NATO bloc. And for us, this is very telling because, after all, due to the intensive use of strategic aviation specifically for strikes against Ukraine, the Russian Federation’s resources are being depleted. Because of the war, the Russians are weakening their strategic aviation capabilities,” Kuzan emphasized.
As reported by Charter97.org, on June 15 in Russia a Tu-22M3 strategic bomber crashed. This occurred near the town of Svirs in the Irkutsk region. Eyewitnesses saw parachutes in the sky. Russian media reports stated that the crew managed to eject before the plane crashed.