Russian bomber crash: Technical malfunction or shot down in mid-air by Ukrainians?

A Russian long-range bomber has crashed in an open field in southwestern Russia - but the exact cause of the crash remains uncertain.

The Russian ministry of defence said it came down due to a technical malfunction, while the Ukranian intelligence service said the Tupolev Tu-22M3 had been shot down.

"An enemy Tu-22M3 aircraft was shot down at a distance of about 300km from Ukraine by the same means that were previously used to shoot down the Russian A-50 long-range radar and control aircraft," the Ukrainian intelligence service said on Telegram.

• Russian 'flagship' bomber destroyed by Ukrainian drone
• Russian warships resupplying further from frontline amid Ukrainian attacks
• Champ: The missile that fries military technology and kills computers, but not people

"As a result of the hit, the bomber was able to fly to the Stavropol area, where it crashed," the message continued.

The Ukrainian intelligence service did not reveal exactly how the aircraft had been destroyed, but said it was a joint operation between it and the air force. 

The four crew members ejected before the crash. Two were taken to hospital where they were said to be in stable condition, one pilot is reported to have died, and efforts are ongoing to locate the fourth pilot, according to Vladimir Vladimirov, the governor of Stavropol Krai.

The Tupolev Tu-22M3, codenamed Backfire by Nato –  is a medium swing-wing bomber and a flagship of Russia's long-range aviation.

The bombers are a coveted target for the Ukrainian forces because of their capability to strike deep within Ukrainian territory.

Ukraine had previously targeted and reportedly destroyed the prized Russian bombers – one in 2022 and one in 2023.

In August last year, UK defence intelligence confirmed that a Tu-22M3 had probably been destroyed at the Soltsky-2 airbase in Novgorod Oblast, 650km away from Ukraine's border.

The Russian defence ministry reported that a copter-style uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) was responsible for that attack.

However, the Tu-22M3 that was destroyed in the latest incident was shot down in mid-air, according to Kyiv.

"It should be noted that this is the first successful destruction of a strategic bomber in the air during a combat mission during Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine," the Ukrainian intelligence service said on Telegram.

"There will be just retribution for every war crime committed against Ukraine."

The previous day, the Russian MOD claimed to have shot down 251 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles, two Tochka-U tactical missiles and 33 Vampire missiles.

Since February 2022, the Russian MOD said it has destroyed 583 aeroplanes and 270 helicopters, 21,734 unmanned aerial vehicles, 504 air defence missile systems, 15,801 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,267 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 8,945 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 21,111 units of special military equipment.