Andriy Smoliı reported that Tu-22 aircraft approached the Bryansk area at approximately 5:00 AM UTC on February 26, 2026, signaling potential escalation in Russian air operations over Ukraine, according to his latest Telegram update in the 29-minute reporting window from 4:46 AM to 5:16 AM UTC. This development follows Smoliı's earlier report of a reconnaissance pause at 4:46 AM UTC, after Russian cruise missiles and Shahed drones targeted Cherkasy, Poltava, Sumy, and Kyiv regions in prior hours, as posted on his channel and corroborated by the 'Стратегічна авіація рф' updates. No new strikes or interceptions were reported in the current 29-minute window, with Smoliı's Tu-22 sighting indicating continued monitoring of Russian strategic aviation near the border, per his real-time post.
