The Russia-Ukraine conflict, which concerns Ukraine's territorial integrity, the survival of Western hegemony, and Russia's national security, has recently ushered in new variables.
On the 19th local time, according to the video released by Beijing time, a Russian Tu-22M3 supersonic strategic bomber spiraled down towards the ground. The Russian side said that the crash was caused by a technical malfunction, and the pilot ejected and escaped, causing no casualties. However, based on various sources, there is a big discrepancy between the Russian side's statement and reality.
Judging from the video at the scene, the fuselage of the wrecked Tu-22M3 caught fire, and it was obvious that it was not due to a technical failure to lose control, but suffered some kind of external impact, so it caused a raging fire and finally crashed out of control. It is reported that the Tu-22M3 crashed out of control on the way back to the air base after performing an air raid on Odessa, Ukraine, and the crash site is located in Stavropol Krai, near the Sea of Azov, about 300 kilometers from Ukraine.
According to a report by the Financial Associated Press on the 19th, the commander of the Ukrainian Air Force, Oreshyuk, posted on his social media on April 19 local time that the Ukrainian Air Force anti-aircraft missile forces cooperated with the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine for the first time to destroy a Russian Tu-22M3 bomber. Judging from the video at the scene and the information released by the Ukrainian side, there is a high probability that the wrecked Tu-22M3 was shot down by the Ukrainian anti-aircraft missile forces. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, one of the three crew members previously found has died, and the search for the fourth person continues.
On April 19, 2023, the spokesman for the Ukrainian Air Force, Colonel Yuriy Ihnat, said that the Patriot air defense system transferred to Ukraine is long-range and will be able to reach targets up to 150 kilometers away, which will make it possible to drive Russian aircraft out of our borders.
How can the Tu-22M3 crash site, which is about 300 kilometers away from the Ukrainian mainland and has a range of 150 kilometers, successfully hit the "Patriot"? The United States or European countries may have secretly provided Ukraine with interceptor missiles with a longer range or a more advanced air defense system. U.S. early warning aircraft, satellites and other intelligence-gathering equipment can monitor the Ukrainian battlefield 24 hours a day, and the Russian aircraft group is equivalent to running naked in front of Ukraine.
The originally frustrated Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is bound to be excited because the Ukrainian army shot down the Russian bomber, and then Zelensky may also usher in a "double happiness", and the new round of military aid from the United States that he has been looking forward to may arrive.
According to a report by NBC on the 17th, Mike Johnson, speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States Congress, announced on the same day that the House of Representatives will hold a final vote on a series of foreign aid bills on the evening of April 20, including a bill to fund Ukraine. In addition, Johnson also announced that a US border security bill will be submitted and voted on separately shortly after.
Originally, Johnson was very resistant to considering Biden's 100 billion budget for Ukraine, but now his attitude has changed, mainly related to the situation of the bipartisan struggle in the United States. If Biden and the Democrats are willing to make concessions on issues such as the border, it is very likely that the Republicans will approve of the budget related to Ukraine.
Coupled with Zelensky's promise that Kyiv is ready to accept loan assistance from the United States. The Republican Party has always resisted the Biden administration's free military aid to Ukraine, and now Zelensky has said that he can accept loans, and the Republican Party has no reason to resist the Ukraine aid bill, and the possibility of the Ukraine aid bill passing the House of Representatives has increased significantly.
(Text/Woo Tsai)