Tu-22m3, which was used to strike southern regions, crashes in Russia: it may have been shot down by the Ukrainian military

On the morning of April 19, a Tu-22M3 strategic bomber-carrier crashed in Russia's Stavropol region. The crash occurred in the wake of a Russian missile attack on Ukraine, and it is believed that the plane was hit by the Defense Forces.

The crash was reported by local public media, publishing photos. The Russian authorities claim that the pilots survived, and there are no injuries or casualties.

"Two pilots from the plane that crashed in Stavropol have been found, they are alive," Governor Vladimir Vladimirov said.

According to monitoring channels, it was a Tu-22M3 aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces that launched X-22 cruise missiles at the southern regions of Ukraine at night. It is possible that it was hit by the Ukrainian military.

"This is the first strategic aviation aircraft to be hit by Ukraine in the air during the full-scale invasion," the Telegram channel Monitor wrote.

Later, a video showing the moment the plane crashed over the Stavropol Territory was posted online.