August M
Russia’s military aviation is coming under growing strain as a series of fatal accidents expose weaknesses unrelated to combat. The incidents, which have occurred deep inside Russian territory, point to systemic problems rather than battlefield losses.
Concerns are now mounting over how long the fleet can be kept operational.
Maintenance under strain
According to the Daily Express, Western sanctions and long-standing maintenance problems are restricting Russia’s access to electronic components and spare parts.
Those pressures are increasingly affecting aircraft reliability across both jets and helicopters.
Rather than losses caused by Ukrainian air defences, many recent crashes have taken place during routine flights, training missions or post-repair tests.
High-profile failures
One of the most serious incidents involved a Soviet-era Antonov An-22 transport aircraft. During a post-repair flight over the Ivanovo region, the 50-year-old plane reportedly broke apart mid-air and crashed into a reservoir.
Two Su-34 bomber pilots were killed when their ejection seats activated unexpectedly while the aircraft was still inside a hangar.
Security footage reportedly showed the crew being thrown into the ceiling, highlighting the severity of the malfunction, the Express reports.
Loss of expertise
According to the Express, the accidents have not only claimed pilots. A helicopter crash in Dagestan killed several senior aviation specialists, including leading engineers from the Kizlyar Electromechanical Plant.
Their deaths have raised concerns about the loss of technical knowledge at a time when Russia is already struggling to maintain complex military equipment.
Together, the incidents suggest an internal crisis driven by wear, shortages and human cost.
As Russia continues to rely heavily on air power, the growing number of non-combat failures may pose a longer-term threat to its military capability than losses at the front.
Sources: Daily Express
