Russia confirms deployment of bombers in Crimea ‘capable of destroying any target in Europe’

"The Tu-22M3 bombers have been deployed in Crimea. These are missile-carrying bombers that are undergoing comprehensive modernization and are capable of destroying any target in Europe with their weapons," Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Defense Vladimir Shamanov said, Interfax news agency reports.

The day before, Chairman of the Russian Federation Council Committee on Defense and Security Viktor Bondarev said that Russia had deployed Iskander-M tactical ballistic missile systems and Tu-22M3 long-range bombers in Crimea.

Tu-22M3 is a supersonic long-range missile-carrying bomber capable of striking sea and ground targets at a distance of up to 2,200 km from home airfields with guided missiles and aerial bombs

Russian troops used Tu-22M3 bombers in military operations in Syria, Afghanistan and, to a limited extent, in the so-called counter-terrorist operation in the North Caucasus and the war against Georgia.

As reported, on December 17, 2018, the UN General Assembly adopted the resolution “Problem of the Militarization of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the City of Sevastopol, Ukraine, as well as Parts of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov”, calling on Russia to withdraw its troops from the territory of Crimea and condemning the growing Russian military presence in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov.

ol