Fact Check: Were US B-1B Strategic Bombers Seen Flying Over Ukraine?

Ukrainian forces are keenly awaiting the delivery of long-awaited F-16 fighter jets as pilots complete training to use the modern aircraft in the country's conflict with Russia.

Kyiv has long requested the advanced jets to upgrade and replenish its air force, battered by more than two years of war against Russia's superior and more numerous aircraft.

However, a post on social media this week suggested that U.S. aircraft were already operating in the country, with a video said to show B1-B bombers flying in Ukrainian airspace.

The Claim

A post shared on X, formerly Twitter, by @front_ukranian, on June 12, 2024—and viewed over 394,000 times—said: "Escort by Ukrainian Su-27S from the 39th Tactical Aviation Brigade, a pair of B-1Bs from the [U.S. flag emoji] 28th Bombardment Wing over Ukraine."

The post includes a video of three planes flying in formation.

The Facts

While the video clearly shows a pair of B1-Bs flying with a Ukrainian Su-27s, it is taken from footage recorded more than four years ago.

As stated by the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv and the Royal Air Force Mildenhall, the footage was taken from a long-range, long-duration strategic Bomber Task Force mission "throughout Europe and the Black Sea region" on May 29, 2020.

According to the embassy, it was the first time that a Bomber Task Force mission integrated with Ukrainian Su-27 Flankers, MiG-29 Fulcrums, and Turkish KC-135s.

Reports at the time did not specify whether the missions were conducted in Ukrainian air space. Newsweek has contacted the U.S. Air Force for clarification.

"We appreciate the opportunity to be able to train with so many partners and allies to build our ability to increase integration, increase operational capability, and more than anything else, build upon what we have learned in the past and actually set the conditions for continued operations together in the future," said Lt. Gen. Steven L. Basham, United States Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa deputy commander, at the time.

The footage was shared on the Telegram group UkrAirForce on June 12, 2024, which posted, based on a translation, that "The bombers flew across the Atlantic, the territory of several European countries, in particular the Republic of Poland and Ukraine. For the first time, a group of bombers performed tasks together with Ukrainian Su-27 and MiG-29 fighters."

Text at the bottom of the post stated "Ukraine May 2020." User @front_ukranian later added the date of the video's recording into the comments.

While Newsweek was unable to find the same footage that was posted on Telegram and X, multiple news reports and footage released by the Air Force Command of UA Armed Forces in 2020 showed the same group of fighters flying on that same mission.

The Ruling

Misleading Material.

The video was initially posted without context. It was filmed in May 2020, the first time that a Bomber Task Force mission integrated with Ukrainian Su-27 Flankers and MiG-29 Fulcrums and Turkish KC-135s.

FACT CHECK BY Newsweek's Fact Check team

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