Air Force on shooting down Russian Tu-22 for the first time: "It was a vendetta"
Kyiv • UNN
Ukrainian air defense forces shoot down a Russian Tu-22 strategic bomber and two X-22 cruise missiles fired from it for the first time in response to Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities.
Today, for the first time, Ukrainian air defense forces shot down a Russian Tu-22 and two X-22 missiles fired by the bomber. It was a "vendetta" for Russia's attacks on Ukrainian peaceful cities. This was stated by Air Force spokesman Ilya Yevlash on Friday on Radio Liberty, UNN reports .
"This is a vendetta for the fact that Russian strategic aviation attacked our peaceful cities today, where civilians were killed..... This is the first time that our Air Force, together with our partners from the GUR and other defense forces, were able to shoot down a Tu-22M3 strategic aviation aircraft. And for the first time, they also shot down two X-22 missiles launched by this aircraft. Of course, this is a combo. Today is a black day for the Russian propaganda media. I think they will be very, very unhappy today. Everything happens for the first time. We shot down a Kinzhal for the first time, and a Zircon for the first time. Now we have shot down a Tu-22 for the first time. Now we are waiting for the Tu-95," said Ilya Evlash.
The Tu-22M3 is a carrier for the X-22 cruise missiles used by Russian troops in Ukraine.
Recall
On the night of April 19, 2024, Russian troops launched a combined attack using 36 missiles and drones, but Ukrainian air defense systems successfully destroyed 29 of them, including for the first time a Russian Tu-22M3 strategic bomber with two X-22 cruise missiles.
Oleksandr Ruvin, Director of the Kyiv Scientific Research Institute of Forensic Expertise, previously described how Russians are trying to modify X-22 missiles.
"The X-22 has an inertial navigation system, its orientation and movement in space is carried out without the use of external navigation aids. Therefore, despite its high power, the missile has low accuracy and frequent collateral damage. The enemy tried to modify the old X-22 into several new variants that differ in terms of guidance, range, speed, weight, and accuracy X-32 is a modified version of the X-22. We know that the changes have been developed and implemented by the enemy for more than a year. The engine and guidance system were replaced, the weight of the warhead was reduced to increase the amount of fuel and ensure the range," Ruvin said.
