A Russian Tu-22M3 supersonic strategic bomber crashed in the Irkutsk region, according to reports published on Monday. The crew reportedly ejected safely before impact; the cause of the crash has not been reported.
A Russian Tu-22M3 supersonic strategic bomber, valued at an estimated $200 million, crashed in the Irkutsk region on Monday, June 15, according to reports. The Tu-22M3 is a long-range bomber that Russia has used extensively in its war against Ukraine, launching Kh-101 cruise missiles and Kinzhal hypersonic missiles. The crew reportedly ejected safely before the crash, though the cause remains unconfirmed. The crash was reported via Telegram channels tracking Russian military aviation incidents. As The Zioneer previously reported (June 15), initial unconfirmed video footage of the crash was later followed by a second camera angle, showing the aircraft descending and impacting the ground. Earlier this year, a Tu-22M3 bomber was reported to have crashed in Russia's Stavropol Krai region during a combat mission. The Irkutsk incident is the second known loss of a Tu-22M3 in 2026. The operational status of Russia's remaining Tu-22M3 fleet has not been commented on by the Russian Defense Ministry as of Monday evening.
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