Russian General Alexander Otrushchenko was reportedly aboard a military transport aircraft, an AN-26, which crashed on March 31 in the annexed region of Crimea. The incident occurred in the vicinity of the village of Kuibyshevo in the Bakhchysarai district.
A source within the Northern Fleet confirmed to the BBC that Otrushchenko, a lieutenant general and commander of the mixed aviation corps of the Northern Fleet, was likely among the casualties. A resident of Severomorsk, who lost a relative in the crash, also corroborated this information.
Otrushchenko had a notable military career, having commanded the naval aviation of the Black Sea Fleet from 2010 to 2013, before leading the naval aviation of the Northern Fleet. In 2024, he was appointed as the commander of the mixed aviation corps of the Northern Fleet. He was involved in the annexation of Crimea and has become the 14th Russian general to die since the onset of the invasion of Ukraine.
On April 1, it was reported that the AN-26 aircraft, which was conducting military operations, crashed in occupied Crimea, resulting in the deaths of all 29 individuals on board.
The crash of a Russian military transport plane in Crimea has resulted in the death of General Alexander Otrushchenko, marking a significant loss for the Russian military. This incident highlights the ongoing military operations in the region amid the conflict in Ukraine.