MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The Russian military will deploy ten Tu-22M3 Backfire C supersonic strategic bombers to Crimea as part of the current large-scale snap inspection of combat readiness, a source in the Defense Ministry told RIA Novosti on Wednesday.
"In the framework of the snap inspection of the combat readiness of the Northern Fleet and some units of the Western Military District, 10 TU-22M3 strategic bombers will be deployed to the Crimean Peninsula," the source said.
Tu-22M3 is a long-range strategic bomber capable of carrying nuclear weapons.
The source added that a large motorized infantry unit from the Central Military District will also be deployed to Crimea as part of the training exercises.
The snap inspection of the combat readiness of the Northern Fleet as well as several units of Western, Southern and Eastern Military Districts began on March 16 and will last until Saturday.
