Tu-22M3 Strategic Bomber Crashes During Training Flight in Irkutsk Region

June 15, 2026 A Tupolev Tu-22M3 strategic bomber. Max071086 (CC BY-SA 3.0) A Russian strategic bomber crashed during a training flight in Siberia’s Irkutsk region, the Interfax news agency reported Monday, citing Russia’s Defense Ministry. A video shared by outlets with links to Russia’s security services captured the Tupolev Tu-22M3 bomber nosediving into the ground, followed by a thick plume of smoke rising from the site of the impact. The aircraft was not carrying any warheads and was descending for landing when it crashed, the Defense Ministry was quoted as saying. “The crew ejected,” the Defense Ministry said, adding that the pilots were alive and well and that there was no damage on the ground. Unverified reports suggested the crash occurred near the town of Svirsk, which lies around 50 kilometers (31 miles) northwest of the Belaya air force base. Belaya hosts the 220th Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment, which is made up of Tu-22M3 and Tu-95 bombers. Last summer, Belaya was among five Russian airbases that came under attack during a vast Ukrainian drone operation dubbed Operation Spider Web. Read more about: Irkutsk , Aircrash , Defense Ministry , Air Force Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Russian Fighter Jet Crashes in Annexed Crimea It marks the second military plane crash in the Black Sea peninsula this week. 1 Min read Defense Ministry Found Liable for Deadly Fighter Jet Crash in Krasnodar Region The case was brought by the relatives of an elderly woman who died when a Su-34 fighter-bomber slammed into an apartment building in the port town of Yeysk... 2 Min read Russia Recovers Black Boxes of Downed Military Plane A Russian Defense Ministry lab is reportedly expected to receive the flight recorder for decoding on Friday. 1 Min read Russian Defense Minister Calls to Speed Up Bomber Production The Kremlin has announced a massive spending hike to accommodate its military needs in Ukraine as its large-scale offensive approaches its second year... 1 Min read