In a dramatic turn of events, Ukraine has publicly claimed responsibility for the fiery crash of a long-range Russian bomber on Friday morning. Ukrainian Air Force commander, Mykola Oleschuk, declared in a statement that the anti-aircraft missile units of the Air Force, in collaboration with the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, successfully destroyed the Tu-22M3 long-range strategic bomber.

According to Oleschuk, the bomber carried cruise missiles that Russian terrorists have been using to target peaceful Ukrainian cities. This incident marks the first time that Ukraine has taken down such a formidable Russian military aircraft.

However, Russia's Ministry of Defense has refuted Ukraine's claim, stating that the crash was the result of a technical malfunction. The Tu-22M3, which allegedly cost around $40 million, crashed in the Stavropol region to the east of the annexed Crimean peninsula. Preliminary reports from Russia's RIA Novosti suggest that a technical malfunction may have caused the tragic incident.

Videos shared on social media depicted the bomber engulfed in flames, spiraling towards the ground. Stavropol Krai Governor, Vladimir Vladimirov, confirmed the crash, and shared photos of the smoking wreckage on his Telegram account. Thankfully, the crew managed to eject before the crash, although one personnel tragically lost their life. The lives of the two surviving pilots are not in danger.

An intelligence source, speaking to Reuters, revealed that Ukraine employed a modified Soviet-era surface-to-air missile, the S-200, to shoot down the bomber. The aircraft had been flying in Russian airspace approximately 200 miles from the Ukrainian border at the time of the incident.

This crash occurs amidst mounting tensions between Russia and Ukraine. On the same day, at least seven people, including two children, lost their lives in Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. Local officials blamed Russian strikes for explosions in the city of Dnipro, where the main station and a residential building were struck. Further east, in Synelnykove, an 8-year-old boy and a 14-year-old girl were among five killed in a home.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased and emphasized the urgent need to combat Russian terror. Zelensky pointed out that every country providing air defense systems to Ukraine plays a crucial role in saving lives. He highlighted the importance of defeating Russian aggression not only for Ukraine but for the entire world.

As tensions continue to escalate in the region, the international community is closely monitoring the situation, hoping for a peaceful resolution to the conflict between Ukraine and Russia.