Russian authorities attribute the plane's crash in the southern Stavropol region to a technical malfunction, whereas Ukraine's air force claims responsibility for shooting down a Russian strategic bomber using antiaircraft missiles, marking the first such incident since the onset of the 2022 war.
The downing occurred within Russian airspace, approximately 300km (186 miles) from Ukraine's border on Friday, following the bomber's involvement in a long-range airstrike that resulted in the death of at least nine individuals in the central Dnipropetrovsk region. The Ministry of Defence stated that the aircraft, which had launched missiles at Ukraine overnight, was en route to its Russian base at the time of the incident.
In a statement released on Friday, Ukraine's military declared, "For the first time, antiaircraft missile units of the air force, in collaboration with Ukraine's defense intelligence, have successfully neutralized a Tu-22M3 long-range strategic bomber." These bombers are frequently deployed by Russia to launch cruise missiles at Ukrainian targets from within its airspace.
Russian authorities refuted Ukraine's claims, asserting that the crash was a result of technical issues. The state-run TASS news agency quoted Russia's Defence Ministry as saying, "A Russian armed forces Tu-22M3 aircraft crashed in the Stavropol region while returning to its base aerodrome after performing a combat mission. The pilots ejected." It added, "According to preliminary data, the cause of the accident was a technical malfunction."
Vladimir Vladimirov, the Governor of Stavropol, reported on Telegram that one of the four crew members died in the crash, while two were hospitalized. Search efforts for the fourth member are ongoing.
Al Jazeera's Charles Stratford, reporting from Kyiv, noted that while Ukraine previously targeted these bombers in August of the previous year, those instances occurred while the aircraft were grounded. He emphasized the ongoing capability of Ukrainian forces to intercept aircraft and missiles even at considerable distances.
Russian strikes in the eastern city of Dnipro and its vicinity claimed the lives of at least nine people and injured 28 others. The attacks inflicted damage on residential structures and the primary train station. The Office of Ukraine's Prosecutor General announced on Telegram, "A child critically wounded during a significant enemy assault on the Dnipropetrovsk region succumbed to injuries in hospital, bringing the death toll to nine, including three children."
Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko, in a separate Telegram post, warned that the casualty count is anticipated to rise as debris from damaged buildings is cleared. Serhiy Lysak, the region's governor, disclosed to Ukrainian television that air defenses successfully intercepted 11 out of 16 missiles and nine out of 10 drones targeting the area.
In response to the strike, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reiterated his urgent plea for Western allies to furnish air defense systems. Zelenskyy stated on social media, "Every country providing air defense systems to Ukraine, every leader advocating for their deployment in cities facing threats, and everyone supporting our defense efforts is saving lives."
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg informed reporters on Thursday of the alliance's efforts to expedite the provision of additional air defense systems to Ukraine. He remarked, "We are exploring the possibility of deploying more Patriot batteries to Ukraine and are in discussions with specific nations."
The United States, a key provider of military assistance to Ukraine, is expected to vote on a long-pending $61 billion aid package over the weekend.
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