A Russian Tu-22M3 strategic bomber crashed in the Irkutsk region on June 15, as confirmed by the Russian Ministry of Defense. The incident occurred while the aircraft was attempting to land during a scheduled training exercise.
The ministry reported that the crew successfully ejected before the crash. Additionally, it stated that the flight was conducted without munitions and that there were no reported damages on the ground.
A commission from the Main Command of the Aerospace Forces is currently investigating the crash site. The Tu-22M3 is a long-range supersonic bomber capable of carrying nuclear weapons, with production spanning from 1978 to 1993. It has been actively deployed in missile strikes against Ukraine since the onset of the full-scale invasion.
Key bases for the Tu-22M3 include Olenegorsk in the Murmansk region and Engels-2 in the Saratov region, where these bombers are primarily stationed.
A Tu-22M3 bomber crashed in Russia's Irkutsk region during a training flight, with the crew ejecting safely. The incident is under investigation, and the aircraft was unarmed.