Russia confirms Tu-22M3 bomber crash after crew ejects in Irkutsk Oblast

Russia’s Defense Ministry later confirmed the crash. The ministry claimed the bomber went down while approaching for landing during what it called a “planned training flight.” Moscow said the aircraft was not carrying munitions.

The Russian military aircraft crashed near Svirsk in Irkutsk Oblast.

Witnesses said they saw parachute canopies in the sky, indicating the crew managed to eject before the aircraft went down.

After the crew ejected, the uncontrolled bomber crashed on the banks of the Angara River. A fire broke out at the site, sending a column of black smoke over the area.

What is known about the Tu-22M3

The Tu-22M3 is a Soviet-designed, later Russian, long-range supersonic missile bomber with variable-sweep wings. Russia has extensively used the aircraft in its full-scale war against Ukraine to launch Kh-22 and Kh-32 cruise missile strikes on civilian and critical infrastructure.

On April 19, 2024, Ukraine shot down a Russian Tu-22M3 long-range bomber in midair for the first time during a combat sortie as it was striking Ukrainian cities.

The downing was the result of a joint operation by Ukraine’s HUR military intelligence agency and the Ukrainian Air Force. The aircraft was hit about 300 kilometers from Ukraine with the same system previously used to destroy a Russian A-50 long-range radar detection aircraft. NV sources said it was a modernized S-200 air defense system. After the precision strike, the burning bomber managed to reach only Russia’s Stavropol Krai, where it fell and crashed. Of the four crew members, two survived, one was killed and another was declared missing.