Two Russian military aircraft crashes have resulted in the loss of military personnel and substantial financial costs for President Putin, totaling around £33 million.
In the first incident, a mysterious crash of the An-26 military transport plane in Crimea claimed the lives of 29 military personnel. Additionally, a separate event involving a Su-34 fighter-bomber, valued at £30 million, resulted in the loss of the aircraft as it engaged Ukrainian drones.
The An-26 crash, costing approximately £3 million, resulted in the deaths of 23 fighters and six crew members after the aircraft lost contact over the Crimean peninsula. Rescuers who reached the crash site reported no signs of a catastrophic impact onboard, suggesting a collision with a cliff or rocks.
Initially, Russian authorities withheld information about the type of military personnel aboard the crashed aircraft, citing a probable technical malfunction. Conversely, Ukrainian sources speculated the possibility of friendly fire involvement.
A statement from the defense ministry confirmed the fatalities on the An-26 aircraft, with six crew members and 23 passengers perishing in the crash. Unofficial reports indicated the crash site was located in Belbek Valley near Sevastopol, a key military airport frequently targeted by Ukrainian armed forces.
The An-26 aircraft, in service since the 1960s, has been a longstanding component of the military fleet. Meanwhile, the Su-34 crash resulted in the pilot’s death, with no immediate information on the navigator’s fate or the crash site provided.
The ongoing conflict with Ukraine has seen Russia lose numerous military aircraft, including planes and helicopters, over the course of the four-year war.
