Russia loses two fighter jets and two helicopters in one day

According to media reports, two Russian fighter jets and two helicopters crashed in the Bryansk region of Russia on Saturday. First, the Russian state news agency Tass reported the crash of a helicopter in the town of Klinzy. An explosion on the helicopter was seen on videos on social networks before it fell to the ground in flames. Tass later reported the crash of a Russian Sukhoi Su-34 fighter jet. In the afternoon, various media reported a second helicopter crash. The newspaper “Kommersant” also wrote in the evening about a second Su-35 fighter jet that was shot down.

The background was initially unclear. The “Kommersant” reported that the helicopters and planes had been shot down by missiles. Under the heading “missile attack in the air” it said that it was a Russian combat unit that would carry out attacks in Ukraine. The suspects would be sought.

Bryansk governor Alexander Bogomas initially only confirmed that the helicopter crashed near Klintsy. Five properties sustained damage. A woman was injured and taken to hospital, he said. A task force has been formed. At first he did not give details.

Russia has repeatedly complained about the shelling of its regions bordering Ukraine. There was already massive damage, deaths and injuries – but nothing comparable to the Russian offensive war aimed at the destruction of Ukraine. The leadership in Kiev repeatedly insists that it will not attack Russian territory in the conflict.

According to the media, two people were killed on board the Mi-8 helicopter that crashed in Klinzy. Videos of the burning wreckage were shared on social media. The two occupants of the fighter jet could not have catapulted themselves from the plane either, the newspaper said. They also died. The crash site of the Su-34 fighter jet is said to be in a village about ten kilometers from the crash site of the Mi-8. It was unclear whether there was any damage to the ground there.

A total of nine people are said to have died in the four crashes. There was no official information about this. The Russian Defense Ministry, which also launches its attacks on Ukraine from the area, did not initially comment. (sda/dpa)