Ukrainian soldiers waited for a week for the Russian Tu-22M3 bomber to reach the right range to shoot it down, stated Kyrylo Budanov, Chief of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine, in a commentary to BBC Ukraine.
"For a week, we were, let's say, in ambush. We were waiting for it to reach the right line," Budanov said, commenting on the downing of the Tu-22M3.
He said that the plane was shot down at a distance of 308 kilometers. Ukrainian soldiers used the same techniques and means that were used to shoot down the Russian A-50 long-range radar detection aircraft.
The Chief of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine reminded that the Russian forces still have such aircraft, but the successful actions of the Defense Forces will make it a little easier for Odesa. It was the Kh-22 missiles launched by Tu-22M3 that caused the most damage to the city.
According to Budanov, the air defense forces were previously unable to intercept the Soviet powerful and high-speed Kh-22 missile. It was not very accurate because it was an old design.
"Most of the civilian buildings were destroyed by these missiles," Budanov said.
He also said that now the Russian army will have to find new launch sites for the Kh-22 and will only be able to use ground-based systems, as well as missiles from long-range aviation and the sea to launch missiles at Odesa.
Destruction of the Tu-22M3
Today, on April 19, the Russian forces tried to launch a missile attack on the southern regions of Ukraine. They used Kh-22 missiles launched by two Tu-22M3 bombers.
For the first time, Ukrainian defenders managed to shoot down one of the planes that carried out the attack. According to RBC-Ukraine's sources, the S-200 anti-aircraft missile system was used for this purpose. It was modified by specialists.
You can learn more about the Tu-22M3 in the material of RBC-Ukraine.
