Two TU-22 long-range bombers were destroyed and others damaged in attacks on two Russian airfields in recent days, according to Ukrainian sources.
“Two were destroyed, two were damaged,” the head of Ukrainian military intelligence (GUR), Kyrylo Budanov, is quoted as saying by n-tv with reference to a corresponding television interview with the Ukrainian service of Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty. It is possible that a fifth plane was hit, he said. He said that his intelligence service was in direct contact with the people who attacked the airfields, “They were people who perform certain tasks from Russian territory.”
Russia had reported drone strikes on Solzy in Novgorod and Shaykovka military airfields in Kaluga. According to Russian sources, one fighter aircraft was damaged. The Tu-22 long-range bombers are code-named “Backfire” by NATO.
This information comes from a party to the conflict and has not yet been independently verified / confirmed. For this reason, the report must be evaluated with reservations. In war, it can be advantageous for parties to make false statements about the course of the conflict in order to strengthen their own position or weaken the position of the opponent.
Image: Kremlin.ru, Vladimir Putin (2022-12-16), CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (image size modified)
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