Russian 'flagship' bomber destroyed by Ukrainian drone

A Russian long-range bomber has been destroyed in a Ukrainian drone strike, according to UK defence intelligence.

A TU-22M3 Backfire medium bomber – a flagship of Russia's Long-Range Aviation (LRA) – was highly likely destroyed at Soltsky-2 Airbase in Novgorod Oblast which is 650km away from Ukraine's border, the latest MOD update said.

The Russian Defence Ministry reported that a copter-style uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) was responsible for the attack.

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The MOD said that, if the reports are accurate, the attack adds weight to the assessment that some UAV attacks against Russian military targets are being launched from inside Russian territory.

The Tu-22, codenamed 'Backfire' by Nato, is a supersonic bomber with a swing-wing design that originated during the Cold War.

Known as Russia's deadliest bomber, the TU-22M can carry free-falling bombs, one volley of which is capable of covering an area equal to 35 football fields.

Contemporary iterations like the Tu-22M3 have the capability to attain speeds of Mach 2 (equivalent to 2,300 km/h or 1,430 mph) and carry a payload capacity of up to 24,000kg, including "dumb bombs" and guided missiles.

It has been extensively employed in various attacks across Ukraine. Early in the war, Backfire bombers carried out an intense bombardment of Mariupol using unguided bombs. 

The heavy bombardment caused 80% of the city's homes to be destroyed, with almost 30 beyond repair, according to estimates from the Mariupol council.

Ukrainian media have reported on the significance of the destruction of a Russian bomber with one headline reading: "Ashes instead of Tu-22M3: the satellite shows the consequences of the attack on Soltsky airfield".

This attack marks the first time that a Russian bomber has been destroyed. 

"This is at least the third successful attack on LRA airfields, again raising questions about Russia's ability to protect strategic locations deep inside the country,"  the MOD update said.