Lieutenant General Kyrylo Budanov, Chief of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, revealed details of the destruction of the russian Tu-22M3 long-range strategic bomber in an interview with the BBC.

"The only thing I can say is that the aircraft was hit from a distance of 308 km, which is far enough. Fruitful and long work makes itself felt. This is the same techniques and means that we used to shoot down the russian A-50 aircraft in the air," Kyrylo Budanov said.

According to him, it was ambushed a missile carrier that was carrying out attacks on civilian Ukrainian cities.

"For a week we were, put it this way, lying in ambush. We were waiting for it to reach the right line," Kyrylo Budanov noted.

The head of Ukraine's military intelligence reminded that this is the first downing of a long-range aircraft in the russian-Ukrainian war, noting that the aggressor state still has such bombers.

After a successful operation by the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine in cooperation with the Air Forces, Kyrylo Budanov expressed hope that Odesa, which suffered significant damage to civilian infrastructure from Kh-22 missiles launched from Tu-22M3, now would be a little safer, as terrorist moscow would be forced to use other means.

"I hope, the Kh-22 missiles will not be seen again," said Kyrylo Budanov.