Russia resumes Iskander launches from Belarus, uses Tu-22M3 bombers – Air Force Command

Russia resumed its missile launches from Belarus territory and started using Tu-22M3 supersonic long-range bombers from Belarus airspace.

The Air Force Command of Armed Forces of Ukraine reported about this.

On June 25, Russian troops launched a massive missile attack on the territory of Ukraine.

According to the Air Force, more than fifty air, sea, and ground-based missiles were launched.

For the first time since the full-scale invasion Belarus airspace was used to lift enemy Tu-22M3 long-range bombers into the air and aim them at Ukraine. The invaders also resumed Iskander ballistic missile system launches from Belarus territory.

Sea-based Kalibr cruise missiles were mainly aimed at targets in the West of Ukraine. In the northern direction the invaders launched Kh-22 missiles from six Tu-22M3 aircraft bombers.

According to the Defence Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, Russian planes took off from Shaykovka Airport in Russia’s Kaluga region, passed the Smolensk region, and entered Belarus.

The launch happened near the town of Petrykov, not far from Mozyr, approximately 50-60 kilometers from the state border of Ukraine. After the launch the bombers returned to Shaykovka airfield.

The enemy also used Iskander and Tochka-U ground-based missiles.

According to Ukrainian intelligence, this was a large-scale provocation by Russia to further involve Belarus in the direct war against Ukraine.

In the southern direction, the invaders launched Oniks missiles from the Bastion coastal defense missile system.

The Air Force noted that the Kh-22, Oniks, and Iskander missiles are extremely difficult targets for current Ukrainian air defense systems. After all, the speed of Oniks and Kh-22 missiles is over 3,000 km per hour. Iskander missiles fly on a ballistic trajectory. Their defeat is an unusual and difficult task for the air defense facilities available in Ukraine.