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Russian Su-34 Crashes Near Key Airbase During Landing Attempt

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Ivan Khomenko
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Russian Su-34 Crashes Near Key Airbase During Landing Attempt
Su-34 fighter with glowing nozzles during airshow at Kubinka airfield, Russia, 2020. (Source: Getty Images)

A Russian Su-34 fighter-bomber crashed on July 1 in a forested area near the village of Veletma and the town of Kulebaki in Russia’s Nizhny Novgorod region.

According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, the aircraft went down during a scheduled training mission. Both pilots ejected before impact.

Initial reports from Russian media outlets Baza and 112 had identified the jet as a Su-27UB, a two-seat variant used for training.

However, the Russian Defense Ministry later clarified that the downed aircraft was a Su-34—a modern, twin-seat strike aircraft primarily used for ground attack missions.

Emergency services confirmed that one of the pilots was located shortly after the crash. Search operations for the second pilot are ongoing. There have been no reports of damage or casualties on the ground.

The incident occurred approximately 12 kilometers from the Savasleyka airbase, home to a branch of Russia’s 4th State Center for Aviation Personnel Training and Military Testing. While the base typically hosts MiG-31 and MiG-31K interceptors, Ukrainian military intelligence has previously reported the presence of Su-series aircraft there as well.

Though the Ministry of Defense attributes the crash to a routine training flight, some reports have not ruled out the possibility that the aircraft may have been involved in air defense operations, including potential interception attempts against Ukrainian drones. No official confirmation has been provided on that version.

The Su-34, introduced into Russian service in the mid-2000s, is part of Russia’s modernized tactical bomber fleet and has been widely used in operations since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in 2022.

Earlier on June 7, Ukrainian forces shot down a Russian Su-35 fighter jet over the Kursk region, according to Ukraine’s Air Force. The $100 million aircraft was downed during a defensive operation along the Kursk axis.

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