Russian bomber crash: Siberian skies light up in fiery disaster
A Russian strategic bomber, the Tu-22M3, crashed in Siberia. Recordings published online show the last moments of the aircraft before it fell. A fire broke out at the crash site.
5:41 PM EDT, August 15, 2024
The catastrophe occurred in the Irkutsk region in remote Siberia. Russian channels on the Telegram app reported the crash. Initial reports suggest a technical malfunction caused the bomber to crash.
The recordings show the already burning aircraft falling from the sky, with the pilots having lost control. Videos from the crash site, also posted on Telegram, reveal the bomber's wreckage engulfed in flames.
"Good news for Ukraine"
"Good news for Ukraine," commented Julian Roepcke, a journalist for the German newspaper "Bild," on the X platform.
Russians are redirecting units from Ukraine. "Difficult situation"
The Tu-22 strategic bombers are used by the Russians for nighttime missile attacks on Ukraine. These aircraft serve as carriers for Ch-22 Raduga missiles and Ch-47M2 Kinzhal hypersonic missiles.
This weaponry is used by the Russians, among other things, to attack critical infrastructure in Ukraine. According to initial reports, the aircraft crew ejected and survived the crash.
