Russia’s defence ministry confirmed the loss and said the aircraft was on a training flight without live munitions. It sent an Aerospace Forces commission to investigate the crash.
Unconfirmed reports suggested that three engines failed during take-off, but investigators have not established the cause. The Tu-95 is powered by four NK-12 turboprop engines fitted with contra-rotating propellers.
Ukrainka is among the air bases used by Russian bombers launching cruise missiles against Ukraine, according to the report. Russian strategic aircraft have moved to more distant bases since Ukraine’s June 2025 drone attacks on bomber bases in European Russia.
