The Russian Defense Ministry reported the incident on Tuesday, stating the plane was on a training mission when it went down in a mountainous region. While the cause is under investigation, the ministry cited preliminary data suggesting a technical malfunction.

Local reports from the Mash Telegram channel claimed residents heard an explosion near the village of Gorny Dzuarikau around the time of the crash.

The Su-34 is a Soviet-era fighter-bomber that has seen increased attention during the ongoing war in Ukraine. Ukrainian forces have reportedly shot down several Su-34s in recent months.

This incident adds to concerns about the safety of Russian military aviation. The domestic airline industry has also faced a rise in accidents and emergency landings since the start of the war, potentially due to sanctions impacting maintenance and parts availability. (ILKHA)