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Russian Tu-22M3 Bomber Crashes in Irkutsk; Crew Ejects Safely

A formal military inquiry will examine a suspected technical failure that further reduces Russia's thin, aging long‑range bomber fleet.

Overview

  • The Tu-22M3 went down during a training landing approach on Monday, June 15, 2026, and all four crew members ejected and were taken to hospital with non‑life‑threatening injuries.
  • Russian officials said the aircraft was not carrying weapons and there was no reported damage to buildings or civilians near the village of Kamenka by the Angara River.
  • Local statements and footage showed the bomber nosediving into a wooded area and produced a large plume of smoke, and preliminary remarks from regional authorities pointed to possible engine failure.
  • A commission from the Aerospace Forces and regional emergency teams were dispatched to the crash site and a formal Defence Ministry investigation is under way to determine the cause.
  • The loss adds to several recent Tu-22M3 accidents and strike losses and highlights that the Soviet-era, out-of-production bomber fleet is aging, hard to replace, and under growing maintenance strain.