"For the first time, anti-aircraft missile units of the Air Force, in cooperation with the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, destroyed a Tu-22M3 long-range strategic bomber, a carrier of Kh-22 cruise missiles used by Russian terrorists to attack peaceful Ukrainian cities," Ukrainian Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk said on Friday, as quoted by the Reuters news agency.
The Russian defence ministry said the strategic bomber had crashed in Russia's southern Stavropol region as it returned to base after carrying out a combat mission; it added that the crash appeared to have been caused by a technical malfunction, according to Reuters.
The Ukrainian military intelligence agency said the warplane had been taking part in a long-range attack on Ukraine.
Russia launched a fresh wave of missile strikes on Ukraine in the early hours of Friday, targeting the country's energy infrastructure, according to officials.
Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, starting the largest armed conflict in Europe since World War II
Friday is day 786 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
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