A Russian Su-34 fighter-bomber has reportedly crashed under mysterious circumstances, according to Russian airmen Ilya Tumanov, who shared the news on his Telegram channel Fighterbomber on Saturday, October 12.
Tumanov confirmed that the crew of the aircraft did not survive the crash.
“Rest in peace, brothers,” he wrote, posting a photograph of the downed aircraft.
As of now, no official details regarding the cause of the crash have been made public, leaving room for speculation. Russian authorities have yet to release an official statement.
However, another Russian Telegram channel, VDV for Honesty and Justice, which is linked to Russia’s armed forces, claimed that the Su-34 was shot down by a Ukrainian F-16 fighter jet. The channel suggests the incident occurred while the Russian aircraft was conducting a bombing run approximately 50 kilometers from the frontline in Ukraine.
There has been no official confirmation from either Russian or Ukrainian authorities regarding the downing of the aircraft, and the details surrounding the crash remain unclear.
The Su-34 is one of Russia’s most advanced fighter-bombers, capable of delivering precision strikes over long distances. Its involvement in Russia’s air campaign in Ukraine has made it a key asset for the Russian military, but this incident raises further questions about its vulnerabilities in the contested airspace near the conflict zone.