Writing on the side of Tu-160 Blackjacks

[LotusOmega375D]

Does anyone know what the writing says that's painted on the flanks of many Russian Blackjacks? It seems to have been a feature for years and I am not certain that it is always the same wording. Here are two googled examples:

[Boatbuoy]

A quick Google search revealed: https://aviation.stackexchange.com/questions/47591...

[LotusOmega375D]

Well spotted, thank you.

[GliderRider]

For those who struggle with Russian, the top one is Nikolai Kuznetzov, and the bottom one is Vassili Reshetnikov

From Wikipedia:

Nikolai Ivanovich Kuznetsov (Russian: Николай Иванович Кузнецов) (July 27, 1911 – March 9, 1944) was a semi-legendary Soviet intelligence agent and partisan who operated in Nazi-occupied Ukraine (Reichskommissariat Ukraine) during World War II who personally killed six high-ranking German officials. His file is still not fully disclosed and will be held until 2025 in the FSB archives. It was not until 1990 that Kuznetsov was officially recognized as a NKVD agent.


Vasily Vasiliyevich Reshetnikov (Russian: Василий Васильевич Решетников) (born December 23, 1919) was a Soviet pilot during World War II. Reshetnikov flew 307 missions mainly as a pilot for a long-range bomber and in the summer of 1943, received the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. After World War II concluded he was named commander of Air Division, Air Corps. Reshetnikov was subsequently promoted to Colonel General and took command of Long-range Air Forces from 1969 to 1980 and was made Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force of the Soviet Union from 1980 to 1986