Russian Tu-22M3 strategic bomber crashes in Siberia near Mongolia border
A Russian Tu-22M3 strategic bomber has crashed in the Irkutsk region of Siberia during what authorities described as a routine training flight
According to reports, the aircraft went down near the village of Kamenka in a remote forested area of Irkutsk Oblast, approximately 280–300 kilometers north of the Mongolian border.
The bomber had reportedly taken off from Belaya Air Base and was not carrying any weapons at the time of the incident. All four crew members successfully ejected before the crash, with no fatalities or injuries reported. Authorities also stated that no damage was caused to civilian property on the ground.
Preliminary findings indicate that a technical malfunction may have occurred while the aircraft was preparing to descend, leading to an in-flight emergency before the bomber crashed in a wooded area.
The Tu-22M3, known by NATO as the “Backfire,” is one of Russia’s long-range supersonic strategic bombers and remains an important component of the country’s strike aviation fleet.
An official investigation has been launched to determine the exact cause of the accident.