What is the meaning of nose-art on the Tu-160 bomber? The BBC reports another Tu-160 interception on 15 Jan 2018 and it's clear that there is a large message painted on the side of the bomber. 

Looking at the Wikipedia page, it seems this style of nose-art is common among the Tu-160 community; the style is similar, but whatever it says, they're all different.

It would be interesting to know what's being said here, and who is making the choices. Official propaganda,  or personal messages?


(source: BBC)
(wikimedia.org)

Most of the Tu-160 in service are named, much like the B-2 bombers are.

The one in the image is S/N: 7-02 "Василий Решетников / Vasily Reshetnikov" named after a WW2 pilot.

You can find the names of the other ones on the Russian Wikipedia.