Ukraine identifies Russian war criminals from downed Tu-22M3 bomber

HUR reported the information, which comes from a documentary by Artem Shevchenko.

The Russian Tu-22M3 bomber, which was hit over 300 kilometers from the front line, crashed near the village of Bogomolov, Stavropol Krai, Russia. The aircraft was part of the 22nd Guards Heavy Bomber Aviation Division based at Shaikovka air base in the Kaluga region of Russia. 

On April 19, 2024, a Tu-22M3 bomber departed from the Mozdok air base in the North Caucasus, heading towards Kushchevskaya military airfield in the Krasnodar Krai of Russia. Its mission was to launch Kh-22 missiles at targets in Ukraine. This was the bomber’s final flight, HUR adds.

"The aircraft was struck at a distance of 308 kilometers, which is quite significant. It’s a clear indication that Ukrainian extensive and effective efforts are yielding results. [...] This marks the first downing of a long-range aircraft in this war," Kyrylo Budanov, the head of Ukraine's Defence Intelligence, said.

Subsequently, HUR identified and provided detailed information on four war criminals from the crew of the downed Russian Tu-22M3 bomber. All four managed to eject, but only two survived:

1. Commander: Sergey Kolesnikov, major, deputy squadron commander for military and political work, personal number E-199209. He resides in Shaikovka, House 7, Apartment 55. He is divorced and has a daughter.

2. Navigator of the Air Squadron: Aleksandr Skryabichev, captain, personal number E-179241. He lives in Shaikovka, House 1, Apartment 8. He is married to Natalia Skryabicheva and has two sons.

3. Assistant Ship's Commander: Andrey Kononov, captain, personal number F-193346. He lived in Shaikovka, House 1, Apartment 41. He was married to Svetlana Kononova and had two daughters. He was liquidated along with the Tu-22M3 aircraft on April 19, 2024.

4. Navigator-Operator of the Squadron: Andrey Grushanin, senior lieutenant, personal number MT-498741. He was divorced and had no children. He was also liquidated along with the Tu-22M3 aircraft on April 19, 2024.

On the morning of April 19, Russia's Tu-22M3 strategic bomber firing Kh-22/Kh-32 missiles at Ukraine crashed in the Stavropol Krai, Russia. The Ukrainian Air Force confirmed the downing of the Russian aircraft in cooperation with Ukraine's Defence Intelligence.