Jens Asbjørn Bøgen
Local residents were the first to find the crew after the crash.
A powerful Russian strategic bomber went down on Monday during a training exercise in Siberia.
The Tupolev Tu-22M3 supersonic missile carrier crashed while descending to land in the Irkutsk region, according to the Interfax news agency.
Video footage on social media captured the dramatic incident. In the clip, the massive aircraft nosedives into the ground before a dense column of black smoke rises from the impact zone.
Russia’s Defense Ministry quickly confirmed the survival of the flight crew.
“The crew ejected. There is no threat to the pilots’ lives or health. There was no damage on the ground. The aircraft was flying without ammunition,” the department reported.
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Saved by locals
Local residents in the Bokhansky District were the first to find the downed airmen near Kamenka village. Irkutsk Region Governor Igor Kobzev shared details of the rescue operation on his Telegram channel.
“According to preliminary information, the crew managed to eject. They were found alive by locals. There were no casualties or damage. Medics are already working with the crew, and they are ready to evacuate them to the regional center if necessary,” Kobzev wrote.
Unverified reports placed the impact near the town of Svirsk. That location lies roughly 50 kilometers away from the Belaya air force base, where the aircraft likely originated.
Military officials are now investigating the cause of the crash. The Defense Ministry stated, “A commission from the Aerospace Forces’ main command is working at the crash site.”
A vital asset
The lost aircraft represents a key component of Russia’s strategic forces. Known by NATO as Backfire, the Tu-22M3 serves as a long-range supersonic bomber capable of carrying nuclear weapons.
These heavy bombers belong to the airborne arm of the Russian nuclear triad. However, the military frequently uses them to launch conventional cruise missiles and heavy bombs in active conflicts.
The incident also shines a light on the vulnerability of the region’s military infrastructure. The nearby Belaya airbase hosts the 220th Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment, which flies these strategic planes.
That very airbase was one of five Russian air assets targeted in the massive Ukrainian Operation Spider Web last summer.
