MOSCOW — A Russian Tu-95 strategic bomber crashed during a training flight in Russia’s Far East on Tuesday, killing six members of the aircraft’s crew, according to the country’s Defense Ministry.
The nuclear-capable aircraft came down in an uninhabited area of the Amur region, the ministry said. One crew member survived the crash and was taken to a hospital for treatment.
Russian authorities said the bomber was not carrying weapons at the time of the incident. Investigators have been dispatched to the crash site to establish what caused the aircraft to go down.
Pilots Reportedly Tried to Avoid Residential Areas
The regional administration said the aircraft crashed close to the village of Krasnoyarovo, along the Zeya River and near Russia’s border with China.
Officials said the crew attempted to direct the aircraft away from populated areas before the crash, potentially preventing casualties on the ground. No deaths among local residents were reported in the initial statements.
Authorities have not yet announced a definitive cause for the accident. An investigation is expected to examine the aircraft’s condition, flight data and circumstances surrounding the training mission.
Tu-95 Has Served Since the Cold War
The Tu-95 is a four-engine turboprop strategic bomber that has been a major component of Russia’s long-range aviation fleet since the Cold War era. It is capable of carrying nuclear weapons and has also been used to launch conventional cruise missiles.
Russia has relied extensively on Tu-95 bombers during its war in Ukraine, using the aircraft to launch long-range missiles against targets from outside Ukrainian airspace.
The aircraft type has also suffered losses and damage in recent years. In June 2025, Ukraine carried out its so-called “Spiderweb” operation, in which drones launched covertly from trucks targeted several Russian military airfields hosting strategic bombers.
The latest crash comes as Russian authorities begin an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the training flight. Further details about the cause of the accident are expected as investigators examine the wreckage and other evidence.
