Russian military plane crashes in Crimea, killing 29

Moscow. A Russian military aircraft has crashed in Crimea, resulting in the deaths of all 29 people on board. The Russian Ministry of Defense confirmed the incident through state media.

According to the ministry, contact was lost with the Antonov An-26 aircraft during a routine flight. Following a search operation, the wreckage was discovered. Preliminary reports suggest the crash was caused by a technical failure that led the plane to strike a cliff.

The aircraft was carrying six crew members and 23 passengers. Officials stated that there were no survivors. Russian authorities have indicated there is no evidence of an external attack.

It was further clarified that the crash was not caused by a missile, drone, or other external factors. Contact with the aircraft was lost around 6:00 PM local time on Tuesday, after which a search and rescue operation located the crash site.

Russia has held Crimea under its control since annexing it from Ukraine in 2014, though it remains internationally recognized as a disputed territory. The crashed aircraft was a Soviet-era model, primarily used for military transport.

Such aircraft, which have been in service since the 1960s, have been involved in various fatal accidents in the past. A similar crash in Kharkiv in 2020 resulted in 26 deaths, and such incidents have continued to occur in subsequent years.