Tu-22M3 strategic bomber crashes in Russia: video

The Russian state-owned news agency RIA Novosti reported.

According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, the Tu-22M3 was performing a scheduled flight when it crashed near the village of Mikhaylovka. The ministry claims that the crew managed to eject.

"According to preliminary data, the crash was caused by a technical malfunction," the statement said.

Tu-22M3 is a long-range strategic bomber that serves as a carrier for Kh-22 missiles. The Tu-22M3 crew consists of four people, and the aircraft can carry up to three Kh-22 missiles. Its flight range is up to 7,000 kilometers, though with a maximum load, this decreases to 2,400 kilometers. As of 2024, there are 57 Tu-22M3 bombers in the Russian arsenal.

This is the second irreversible loss of a Tu-22M3 for the Russian Aerospace Forces in a year. One of these aircraft was destroyed on April 19, 2024, when it was shot down by an S-200 air defense missile system.

• On the morning of April 19, Russia's Tu-22M3 strategic bomber crashed in the Stavropol Krai, Russia.