Russian combat pilot responsible for missile attacks on Ukraine found shot – intelligence

Ukraine's intelligence states Major Oleg Stegachev, the crew commander of a Tu-95 strategic bomber, was shot dead in Engels, Russia.

The pilot, born in 1983, served at the Engels air base and was directly involved in launching missile strikes on civilian targets in Ukraine and killing people.

Stegachov sustained gunshot wounds during the attack on his car. Intelligence is clarifying whether he is still alive.

"All war criminals will face retribution.

We know your names, addresses, license plates, usual routes and habits." 

By 2021, Russia had 60 Tu-95MS aircraft. However, according to Defense Express, the actual number of these strategic bombers is much lower.

Since the first day of the full-scale war, Russia has used Tu-95MS to strike Ukraine, particularly in the western regions of Ukraine. Strikes with these bombers resumed last fall and winter, as well as in the summer of 2023.

From September 21, 2023, Russia paused and did not use these aircraft.

However, on December 8, 2023, seven Tu-95MS aircraft launched 19 X-101/X-555 missiles from the Engels area of Saratov region of the Russian Federation. They were aimed at Kyiv and Dnipropetrovs'k region.