On Monday, June 15, a Russian Tu-22M3 strategic bomber crashed in the Irkutsk region of Siberia.
Russian telegram channels Mash, ASTRA and Ostorozhno, novosti first reported on the incident. According to these sources, the plane crashed during landing during a planned training-training flight. The bomber reportedly flew without combat ammunition.
According to the Russian state agency TASS, the crash was later confirmed by the Ministry of Defense in Moscow. According to him, the accident happened during a training flight, the crew survived.
“The crash of the Tu-22M3 aircraft occurred during a scheduled training flight while landing. The crew ejected,” the ministry said, adding that the aircraft was flying without weapons and there was no damage on the ground.
The machine crashed near the city of Svirsk in the Irkutsk region. According to Russian media, witnesses saw parachutes in the sky, which should indicate that the crew managed to eject before the plane crashed.
The uncontrolled bomber landed on the bank of the Angara River. A fire broke out at the scene of the accident and a plume of black smoke rose over the area.
Russia repeatedly used Tu-22M3 bombers to conduct long-range missile strikes against Ukraine during its large-scale invasion.
