From the Euromaiden website;
"..A Russian air force Tupolev Tu-22M Backfire bomber crashed in Irkutsk Oblast near Mongolia on or just before Monday, 15 June 2026. Dramatic videos from the ground depict the swing-wing bomber falling to the ground after apparently suffering some kind of mechanical malfunction near Belaya air force base, which hosts Russian long-range bombers. The crash is a victory of sorts for Ukraine, as it labors to reduce Russia's fleet of long-range bombers. The bombers routinely launch cruise missiles at Ukrainian cities as part of Russia's wider campaign of terror targeting Ukrainian civilians..."
Russia’s Tupolev Tu-22M is one of the Kremlin’s Soviet-era legacy bomber aircraft, designed to fly at supersonic speeds and launch long-range strategic strikes against NATO targets on land, as well as high value shipping targets - US Carrier Strike Groups or other points of strategic importance. The war in Ukraine is a rather different conflict, with highly contested front-lines and multi-layered defences, which have meant that the Tu-22s have been kept largely out of harm's way. Both belligerents have had to find new ways of launching strategic strikes. Russia started its invasion of Ukraine in 2022 with around 60-70 Tu-22 M-3 strategic bombers from a total production of around 268 machines. Only around 50% of these would have been serviceable. Production ended in 1993 and although capabilities were upgraded in the period 2014-2018 this has not prevented losses continuing to mount even despite the war against Ukraine - some 24 machines from all causes. The Tu-22M-3 serves as one of Russia's primary platforms for Kh-22 and Kh-32 cruise missile strikes against Ukrainian cities and civilian infrastructure. Ukrainian analysis indicates up to 70% of Russia's combat-ready Tu-22M-3 long-range bombers have been lost since 2022 and it now retains as few as 20 operational aircraft (Defense Express). Obviously with no production, spares inventories are particularly low with individual machines being 'cannibalised' to keep the 'fleet' in the air. The Ukrainian defense outlet published its assessment in mid-June as a third Tu-22M-3 was lost in a crash since 2022.
The largest single loss of Tu-22M-3 bombers has been attributed to the Ukraine Security Service (SBU) Operation Spiderweb on 1 June 2025, which reportedly destroyed as many as 12 Tu-22M-3 aircraft at the Olenya, Belaya, and Dyagilevo airbases. The SBU claim that the operation struck 41 Russian aircraft across multiple bases (in red below). Even prior to Spiderweb in August 2024, a Ukrainian drone strike hit Soltsy-2 airbase, a military installation in Russia’s Novgorod region. The strike destroyed a single Tu-22M. As Ukraine does possess the ability to strike far beyond its borders the Tu 22M-3 force remains vulnerable on the ground, even while operating far behind the front...
During Operation Spider Web an FPV drone targets a Tu-22 M-3 at Dyagilevo training base near Ryazan
Russia’s Tupolev Tu-22M is one of the Kremlin’s Soviet-era legacy bomber aircraft, designed to fly at supersonic speeds and launch long-range strategic strikes against NATO targets on land, as well as high value shipping targets - US Carrier Strike Groups or other points of strategic importance. The war in Ukraine is a rather different conflict, with highly contested front-lines and multi-layered defences, which have meant that the Tu-22s have been kept largely out of harm's way. Both belligerents have had to find new ways of launching strategic strikes. Russia started its invasion of Ukraine in 2022 with around 60-70 Tu-22 M-3 strategic bombers from a total production of around 268 machines. Only around 50% of these would have been serviceable. Production ended in 1993 and although capabilities were upgraded in the period 2014-2018 this has not prevented losses continuing to mount even despite the war against Ukraine - some 24 machines from all causes. The Tu-22M-3 serves as one of Russia's primary platforms for Kh-22 and Kh-32 cruise missile strikes against Ukrainian cities and civilian infrastructure. Ukrainian analysis indicates up to 70% of Russia's combat-ready Tu-22M-3 long-range bombers have been lost since 2022 and it now retains as few as 20 operational aircraft (Defense Express). Obviously with no production, spares inventories are particularly low with individual machines being 'cannibalised' to keep the 'fleet' in the air. The Ukrainian defense outlet published its assessment in mid-June as a third Tu-22M-3 was lost in a crash since 2022.
The largest single loss of Tu-22M-3 bombers has been attributed to the Ukraine Security Service (SBU) Operation Spiderweb on 1 June 2025, which reportedly destroyed as many as 12 Tu-22M-3 aircraft at the Olenya, Belaya, and Dyagilevo airbases. The SBU claim that the operation struck 41 Russian aircraft across multiple bases (in red below). Even prior to Spiderweb in August 2024, a Ukrainian drone strike hit Soltsy-2 airbase, a military installation in Russia’s Novgorod region. The strike destroyed a single Tu-22M. As Ukraine does possess the ability to strike far beyond its borders the Tu 22M-3 force remains vulnerable on the ground, even while operating far behind the front...
Tupolev Tu-22M-3 (RF-94233, Bort'Red 20') launches into its takeoff run in Belaya, Siberia. Dimitry Pichugin photo. The aircraft was lost after a takeoff accident in September 2017 in Shaikowka.
