Russian Nuclear-Capable Bomber Crashes, Killing Six

A Russian Tu-95 strategic bomber crashed during a training flight in the Far Eastern Amur region on Tuesday, killing six of the seven crew members on board and injuring one.

The aircraft crashed in an uninhabited area near the village of Krasnoyarovo, close to the Chinese border, according to Russia’s Defence Ministry. The bomber was not carrying any ammunition at the time of the crash.

The aircraft had reportedly taken off from the Ukrainka airbase and crashed shortly afterward. Emergency crews responded to the scene after the aircraft caught fire.

The surviving crew member was injured and taken to hospital for treatment. Regional authorities said the pilots had attempted to steer the aircraft away from residential areas before the crash.

Russia’s Aerospace Forces have sent a commission to the crash site to determine the circumstances and cause of the accident. Authorities have not yet established an official cause.

The Tu-95 is a Soviet-era, four-engine turboprop strategic bomber capable of carrying and launching nuclear weapons. It first flew in 1952 and entered service in 1956. The aircraft remains an important component of Russia’s long-range military aviation and has also been used to launch conventionally armed cruise missiles.

The crash occurred in a remote part of Russia’s Far East, where the military maintains several airbases used for long-range aviation.

The incident comes amid continued scrutiny of Russia’s long-range bomber fleet, several aircraft from which were damaged or destroyed in attacks on Russian airbases in 2025. However, there is currently no indication that the Amur crash was caused by hostile action. The official investigation into the accident is ongoing.