Play store
A Russian Tu-95MS strategic bomber, capable of carrying nuclear weapons, crashed shortly after take-off during a training flight in Russia’s Far Eastern Amur region on Tuesday, killing six crew members.
Russia’s Defence Ministry said the aircraft went down in an uninhabited area near the village of Krasnoyarovo. One crew member survived and was taken to a medical facility.
The ministry also said the bomber was not carrying ammunition at the time of the crash.
The Tu-95MS is a long-range strategic bomber that forms part of Russia’s nuclear-capable air force.
The aircraft has also been used by Russia to launch cruise missiles during its war in Ukraine.
Initial reports indicated that the aircraft crashed only minutes after taking off from the Ukrainka air base.
Russian authorities have launched an investigation, with preliminary reports pointing to a possible technical malfunction, although the exact cause has not yet been established.
The crash occurred more than 3,000 miles from Ukraine and in an area without civilian settlements nearby.
Video footage circulating online showed flames and thick smoke rising from the crash site, though the footage has not been independently verified.
The Ukrainka air base is one of Russia’s major bases for long-range strategic bombers and is located in the Amur region.
The Tu-95, first flown in the Soviet era, remains an important component of Russia’s strategic bomber fleet.
