Russian Waterbombers

I think we need to be careful about what the real facts are in this story. The bushfires have created an emotionally loaded, politically charged environment, with a lot of biased people out there. News stories seem to evolve daily. I'll accept the version that appears in the Royal Commission's report.
Realistically, would these bombers be able to easily load up with the required amounts of water in Victoria during a drought? They can't hover over a lake or dam like a helicopter.