Long‑range Tu‑22M3 bombers have been a key platform for Russia's Kh‑22 missile strikes against Ukraine since the war began. However, aircraft losses, Ukrainian attacks on air bases and fleet wear have sharply reduced the number of combat‑ready bombers. Estimates suggest the operational Tu‑22M3 fleet is down by more than 70% compared with 2022, undermining one of Russia's main long‑range strike tools. A few recent Ukrainian attacks on Russian bomber bases, which host aircraft dating from the 1970s‑80s, have forced some of the fleet to land.