In response to the Ukrainian attack that destroyed dozens of Russian bombers in early June, the Russian Aerospace Forces launched a strategic flight with Tu-22M3 bombers over the Baltic Sea.
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The action marks the first use of this type of aircraft since the Ukrainian attacks on airbases in Siberia and northern Russia.
Operation Details
According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, the Tu-22M3 bombers carried out a planned flight through airspace over neutral waters of the Baltic Sea, lasting more than four hours.
In certain segments of the route, the Tu-22M3s were accompanied by fighters from other countries — reportedly from NATO nations, according to the statement.
Strategic Context
The flight represents a gesture of operational normalization after the Ukrainian attack on June 1, in which drones destroyed or damaged about 40 Russian aircraft, including Tu-22M3, Tu-95MS, and Tu-160.
Furthermore, the Russian government emphasized that this type of patrol is routine, with regular flights over the neutral waters of the Arctic, North Atlantic, Pacific, Baltic Sea, and Black Sea.
All flights reportedly comply strictly with international airspace regulations.
Source and images: Russian Ministry of Defense. Telegram @mod_russia. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
