Moment Ukraine ‘shoots down’ one of Putin’s £228m Backfire nuke bombers sending plane plunging to ground in death spiral

THIS is the dramatic moment a Russian Tu-22M3 strategic bomber was shot down to the ground today by Ukraine.

The £228 million aircraft was part of Vladimir Putin’s nuclear strike force – and attack loss is a major blow to the dictator.

AFP

Remains of a Russian Tu-22M3 long-range strategic bomber crashed in an agricultural field outside Stavropol[/caption]

The rear of the long-range bomber was ablaze and smoking as it fell to the ground and exploded.

It crashed over the Stavropol region in southern Russia, after completing a conventional bombing attack on Ukraine.

All four crew members were reported to have ejected from the stricken plane .

They were said by Russian sources to be “alive” and were rushed to hospital, according to reports.

Kyiv sources suggested that the plane was hit by Russian air defence fire, possibly mistaking it for an incoming Ukrainian kamikaze drone.

The plane came down in a field in the Krasnogvardeysky district of Stavropol region.

Governor Vladimir Vladimirov said “Two pilots from the plane that crashed in the Krasnogvardeisky district have been found.

“They are alive, we are taking them to the hospital.

“All services went to the scene.”

Later reports said the two other crew members had been located and were being hospitalised.

The Russian defence ministry claimed a “technical malfunction” was the likely cause of the downing while admitting the plane was returning from a bombing mission over Ukraine.

The Russian defence ministry said: “A Russian Air Force’s Tu-22M3 crashed in the Stavropol region after performing a combat mission while returning to its home airfield.

“The pilots ejected, three crew members were evacuated by a search and rescue team, and a search for one pilot is underway.

“There was no ammunition on board, the aircraft went down in a deserted area.

“There is no damage on the ground.

“According to preliminary data, the cause of the accident was a technical malfunction.”

However a witness to the crash suggested it was not a technical problem.

“Now I have a lot of questions,” he said, suggesting that friendly fire may have been the cause.

One theory is that Russian air defences blew the Tu-22M3 out of the sky in a friendly fire incident – but there is no confirmation.

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