Kathrine Frich
With each loss, the Kremlin faces deeper pressure to sustain operations that depend on aircraft once considered routine but now increasingly irreplaceable.
Unmanned systems dominate the skies in the war between Russia and Ukraine.
This means that every remaining crewed aircraft has become a scarce and valuable asset.
Russia’s fleet has been under growing strain as traditional transport planes take on expanded roles alongside drone logistics, electronic warfare platforms and aerial surveillance systems.
Initial reports
Russian state broadcaster Vesti has reported that an AN-22 military transport aircraft went down in the Ivanovo region on Tuesday.
‘According to the channel, seven crew members were on board when the plane crashed.
There has been no independent confirmation of the incident, and Russian authorities have not released details on the condition of those on board.
It is not known whether any crew members survived.
About the AN-22
The Antonov AN-22, known as “Antei,” is a large turboprop transport aircraft introduced in the Soviet Union during the mid-1960s.
According to the Russian state-owned manufacturer and reference data published by the Royal Aeronautical Society, it is capable of carrying roughly 60 tonnes of cargo, making it one of the heaviest turboprop aircraft ever built.
The aircraft is powered by four Kuznetsov NK-12 engines with contra-rotating propellers and has a typical range of around 5,000 kilometres depending on load.
Designed for strategic airlift, it has been used to transport armoured vehicles, humanitarian supplies and troops on long-distance missions.
Although only a small number remain in service, the AN-22 still fulfils occasional military transport roles for Russia.
Its age, however, has long raised safety concerns among aviation specialists, especially as maintenance resources have tightened under wartime sanctions.
Sources: Vesti (Russia), BBC News aviation archive, Royal Aeronautical Society, Skynews.
