The DIU has identified Russian servicemen from the crew of the downed Tu-22M3 bomber

The Defence Intelligence of Ukraine has identified war criminals from among the crew of the Tu-22M3 strategic bomber that was shot down on April 19, 2024, in the Stavropol Territory of the Russian Federation. All four were able to eject, and two survived: the ship's commander, Major Serhiy Kolesnikov , and the navigator of the air squadron, Captain Oleksandr Skryabichev.

This was reported by the DIU press service on July 4. The military intelligence reminded that the operation to destroy the Tu-22M3 was carried out by the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine and the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on April 19, 2024.

Video of the crash of a Russian Tu-22M3 in the Stavropol Territory of the Russian Federation

The Russian bomber, which was destroyed more than 300 kilometers from the front line, crashed near the village of Bogomolov in the Stavropol region of the Russian Federation.

The aircraft with the tail number "11" belonged to the 52nd Heavy Bomber Regiment (military unit 33310, Shaikovka air base, Kaluga region, Russia), which is part of the 22nd Guards Heavy Bomber Division of the Long-Range Aviation Command of the aggressor country's VKS.

The documentary material of the DIU representative Artem Shevchenko published the identified data of Russian war criminals from among the crew of the aircraft.

In particular, the intelligence established the names and detailed information about four war criminals:

- The ship's commander - Kolesnikov Sergey Anatoliyevich, deputy squadron commander for military and political work, major. Divorced, has a daughter;

- navigator of the air squadron - Aleksandr Skryabichev, captain. He has a wife and two sons;

- assistant ship's commander Kononov Andrey Yuriyevich and navigator-operator of the air squadron Grushanin Andrey Aleksandrovich were liquidated on April 19 along with the Tu-22M3 aircraft.

What is known about the Tu-22M3 aircraft

The Tu-22M3 is a Russian-modernized version of the Soviet Tu-22M aircraft. It is a long-range supersonic bomber-missile carrier with variable wing geometry designed to engage sea and land targets with cruise missiles, including nuclear warheads and air bombs.

The main armament is the Kh-22N anti-ship hypersonic cruise missile with a light high-explosive warhead and the Kh-22PSI missile with a megaton warhead. This bomber can also be equipped with free-fall bombs.

According to some reports, only the Russian Federation currently operates Tu-22M3s, which are used to launch missile strikes against Ukraine.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, on April 19, Ukrainian defenders destroyed the occupiers' Tu-22M3 strategic bomber for the first time.

This happened almost immediately after the aggressor's missile attack on Ukraine - the aircraft was hit by the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine together with the DIU.

The Ukrainian military intelligence said that it was not only a shock for the occupiers, but also a serious loss. The DIU also predicted that for some time there may be fewer missile strikes, at least from air, particularly in Odesa region.

According to the head of the DIU, Kyrylo Budanov, Ukrainian missiles were used for the operation, which were "made from scratch from old components." In his turn, DIU representative Andriy Yusov noted that "this is not a new type of weapon, nothing extraordinary was used here."

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