A Tu-22M3 strategic bomber crashed in the Cheremkhovsky
District of Russia's Irkutsk Oblast, Russian state propaganda agency TASS
reported on Aug. 15.
According to the report, citing the Russian Defense Ministry, the crew managed to eject before the crash. Later, TASS reported, citing the regional governor, that all four pilots aboard the Tu-22M3 were found alive. The preliminary cause of the crash is believed to be a technical malfunction.
The incident was recorded on video and published by the Russian Telegram channel Baza.
Another Telegram channel, Ostorozhno Novosti, citing residents of the village of Mikhailovka, reported that the aircraft crashed near the village after catching fire. The bomber reportedly took off from the nearby Belaya airfield.
Russia regularly uses Tu-22M3 bombers to carry out missile strikes on Ukraine with Kh-22 cruise missiles.