Ukrainian officials accuse Russia of “barbaric” bombing of Mariupol, a besieged port city in eastern Ukraine.
Ukrainian Defense Ministry spokesman Oleksandr Motuzyanyk said: “For the first time since the beginning of the armed aggression, Tu-22M3 long-range bombers have carried out airstrikes – this attack was carried out. appeared in the city of Mariupol”.
The Russian Defense Ministry also shared a video showing the moment of carpet bombing of the Mariupol steel plant.
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The Russian Air Force is said to have used its Tupolev Tu-22M3 Backfire long-range strategic bomber and surface-to-surface attack bomber to drop unguided bombs on Ukrainian troops in the besieged city of Mariupol.
For the first time in the Ukraine war, Russia began using Tu-22 bombers to bombard Ukrainian military positions in Mariupol. pic.twitter.com/NrsG1qHkwa
– Aladdin Al Diab (@aladdinaldiab) April 16, 2022
Earlier, a video appeared on social media, believed to have been shot recently in eastern Ukraine, clearly showing the Backfire bomber.
Tu-22 saw Mariupol, today… pic.twitter.com/72ifFbXZHO
– BashKarma (@Karmabash) April 17, 2022
This represents a major escalation in the War between the two countries, which broke out in February and mainly in the disputed Donbas area.
Russian forces seek to capture Mariupol, create a land bridge with Crimea, expand the occupation zone in the self-proclaimed republics of Donetsk and Luhansk – and possibly encircle the main Ukrainian fighting force fighting against it.
