“The Crimean grouping has enough aviation and missile defense systems that are already deployed there. No one has given the Air Force any tasks so far [of deploying Tu-22M3s]. If we are tasked with this, then we as the military will complete the task according to schedule,” Bondarev told journalists at the Aviadarts-2015 airshow.
Earlier, Russian media reported that the Defense Ministry planned to deploy the long-range bombing aircraft on the peninsula, citing unofficial sources. However, there was no mention of arming them with nuclear warheads.
Crimea rejoined Russia in March 2014, after 96 percent of the peninsula's population voted in favor of a reunification deal.
The United States, the European Union and their allies have refused to recognize the results of the vote, labeling Crimea's secession an "annexation," and have introduced several rounds of economic sanctions against Moscow. The Kremlin has insisted that the vote was held within the international legal framework.
