Ukraine destroys valuable Tu-22M3 strategic bomber in drone strike on key Russian airbase.

In an interview with LB.UA on April 9, 2025, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi, confirmed that a Ukrainian long-range drone destroyed a Russian Tu-22M3 strategic bomber shortly after it landed at Shaykovka Airbase in Russia's Smolensk Oblast. According to Syrskyi’s statement, the strike occurred immediately after the aircraft touched down and resulted in the loss of a bomber valued at approximately $100 million. This operation could mark one of the most significant known losses of a long-range Russian bomber since the start of Ukraine’s campaign to target strategic military infrastructure deep inside Russian territory.
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The confirmed hit on an operational Tu-22M3 following its landing represents the first publicly verified instance of such a platform being struck on Russian soil during ground operations, rather than during combat sorties. (Picture source: Tupolev and Telegram/Cyberboroshno)

The attack occurred during the night of March 31, 2025, as part of a broader effort by Ukrainian forces to disrupt Russia’s ability to launch long-range missile strikes. Satellite images shared by the cyber community Cyberboroshno showed visual confirmation of the aftermath, revealing evidence of the strike, including unusual debris and visible damage to the parking area where bombers are usually stationed. These images also showed what analysts described as remnants of a destroyed aircraft or a building. These findings, combined with Syrskyi's public statement, lend weight to the conclusion that a Tu-22M3 was effectively neutralized (either heavily damaged or completely destroyed) in the latest strike.

Shaykovka Airbase, located in Smolensk Oblast, serves as a key facility for Russia’s long-range aviation and hosts the Tu-22M3 bombers of the Russian Air Force’s 52nd Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment (military unit 33310), which are frequently employed in missile attacks on Ukrainian territory using Kh-22 and Kh-32 air-launched cruise missiles. In addition to the bomber itself, previous reports indicated that Ukrainian drones had previously targeted and destroyed a storage facility and technical premises associated with Kh-22 and Kh-32 missiles at the same airbase. Ukrainian drone attacks on this base are not unprecedented. Shaykovka has been targeted at least three times before: in October 2022, August 2023, and September 2024. These repeated operations align with Ukraine’s ongoing strategy to degrade Russia’s strategic aviation capabilities by targeting critical nodes such as bomber bases and ammunition depots.

Outside of Shaykovka, other incidents involving Tu-22M and Tu-22M3 bombers have occurred. In August 2023, a Ukrainian drone strike was reported to have targeted Soltsy Airbase in the Novgorod region, where Tu-22M3 bombers were stationed, leading to the destruction or damage of at least one aircraft, according to open-source imagery and Russian media reports. Additionally, in April 2023, a Tu-22M3 reportedly crashed in Russia’s Astrakhan region, with the Russian Ministry of Defense attributing the incident to a technical malfunction. While the full extent of losses to Tu-22M series bombers remains unclear due to limited official disclosures, the confirmed hit on an operational Tu-22M3 following its landing represents the first publicly verified instance of such a platform being struck on Russian soil during ground operations, rather than during combat sorties.

The Ukrainian strike disabled critical missile infrastructure, destroyed a Tu-22M3 bomber, and eliminated several Kh-22 and Kh-32 missiles, significantly disrupting Russian long-range strike capabilities from the Shaykovka Airbase. (Picture source: Telegram/Cyberboroshno)

The Tu-22M was developed by the Tupolev Design Bureau beginning in 1965. It evolved from requirements issued by the Soviet Air Force and the Ministry of the Aviation Industry on 24 August 1965 to produce a new long-range bomber capable of operating across a wide spectrum of altitudes and speeds. The program, designated “Project 145,” initially proposed modifying the earlier Tu-22 by adding variable-geometry wings and more efficient engines, but the design was eventually reworked into a new airframe. The first prototype Tu-22M0 conducted its maiden flight on 30 August 1969. Subsequent variants included the Tu-22M1 and Tu-22M2, the latter of which entered limited service in 1976. The Tu-22M3 followed in 1978, and production of all Tu-22M variants continued until 1993. A total of 497 aircraft were produced. The aircraft was constructed at the Kazan Aviation Plant, with development and flight testing supported by institutions including the Zhukovsky Flight Research Institute and the 43rd Combat Training Center for Long-Range Aviation.

The Tu-22M3 (NATO reporting name: Backfire-C) is a long-range, supersonic bomber featuring variable-sweep wings and powered by two NK-25 turbofan engines mounted in the rear fuselage. Each engine produces up to 25,000 kgf of thrust. The wings can be adjusted between 20° and 65°, allowing adaptation to different flight regimes. The aircraft's maximum speed is approximately 2,000–2,300 km/h at altitude, and its ferry range is around 7,000 km. The estimated combat radius is 2,400 to 3,000 km, depending on payload and flight profile. The aircraft's maximum takeoff weight is about 126,000 kg, and it can carry up to 24,000 kg of ordnance. Fuel is stored in internal tanks with a total capacity of up to 67,700 liters.

The Tu-22M3 is capable of carrying Kh-22 and Kh-32 cruise missiles, which have operational ranges of approximately 600 to 1,000 km and speeds exceeding Mach 4. These missiles are designed for use against ground and maritime targets. The bomber can also be configured to carry free-fall bombs and other conventional munitions. A tail-mounted GSh-23M twin-barrel 23 mm cannon provides rear defense. The Tu-22M3 is equipped with the PNA-D radar system for navigation and targeting and includes electronic warfare and communication systems. The upgraded Tu-22M3M variant incorporates digital cockpit instruments, modernized targeting systems, and compatibility with newer guided munitions.

The Tu-22M3, in service since 1978, has been used in multiple operations by the Soviet Union and later the Russian Federation, being deployed in Afghanistan, Chechnya, Georgia, Syria, and Ukraine. (Picture source: Tupolev)

The aircraft has been used in multiple operations by the Soviet Union and later the Russian Federation. It has been deployed in Afghanistan, Chechnya, Georgia, Syria, and Ukraine. In Syria, it was used to conduct airstrikes on designated targets. In the war in Ukraine, the Tu-22M3 has launched Kh-22 and Kh-32 missiles at targets across Ukraine from airspace well within Russia. These operations often originate from bases such as Shaykovka and Mozdok. The aircraft’s ability to remain outside the range of Ukrainian air defenses has allowed it to participate in stand-off missile campaigns. However, it has also become a consistent target for Ukrainian long-range drones due to its role in missile delivery operations.

The Tu-22M3 continues to serve in Russia’s long-range aviation units, with the 52nd Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment at Shaykovka as one of its principal operators. In addition to Shaykovka, aircraft of this type have also been deployed to bases such as Mozdok and, in earlier years, to Engels and Soltsy. The platform is undergoing gradual modernization under the Tu-22M3M program, which includes airframe refurbishment and upgrades to avionics and mission systems. These upgrades aim to increase operational effectiveness and compatibility with modern precision weapons. However, the rate of modernization has been limited, and the operational fleet size is declining.

The unit cost of a Tu-22M3 in 1970s prices was approximately 12 million rubles. The development program was estimated at 60.25 million rubles in 1965. Contemporary estimates suggest the replacement cost of a fully equipped and operational Tu-22M3 could reach approximately $100 million. Each aircraft’s complexity includes a variable-sweep wing design, twin afterburning engines, integrated avionics, and missile-delivery systems. The Tu-22M3 remains a key component of Russia’s long-range bomber fleet, alongside the Tu-95MS and Tu-160, but its age and the increasing threat posed by long-range drones and loitering munitions create ongoing challenges for survivability and operational continuity.