The downing of the Russian strategic bomber signals Russia's strategic defeat, as it no longer produces such aircraft, and the number of those that can perform combat missions is about 20. This opinion was expressed by military expert Valeriy Ryabykh in a commentary to UNN.
Today, the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported the downing of a Tu-22M3, a so-called "nuclear triad" aircraftthat was conducting a nighttime missile strike and crashed in Russia's Stavropol region.
"TU22M3 aircraft have been in service in Russia for a very long time, and with the outbreak of a full-scale war, they have been used more and more often. If by February 24, 2022, the Russians had about 80 of these aircraft, of which 40 were technically capable of flying, now their number has been halved," says military expert Valeriy Ryabykh.
According to him, Russia has fewer and fewer opportunities to strike with impunity on the territory of Ukraine and will have to carefully consider the planning of its terrorist attacks, as Ukraine is able to strike at a greater distance.
"Shooting down planes at such a distance, deep inside Russia, is a signal that Russia is losing strategically, because now Ukraine is able to shoot down planes at such a range."
He also added that Russia cannot produce such aircraft, but they are modernizing them at the Kazan Aviation Production Association, which was recently hit by Ukrainian drones.
Recall
Ukrainian air defense forces shoot down a Russian Tu-22 strategic bomber and two X-22 cruise missiles launched from it for the first time.