At least two Russian aircraft have crashed in Russia’s Bryansk region near the country’s border with Ukraine.
A Su-34 combat jet and a Mi-8 helicopter came down on Saturday, according to Russia’s state-owned Tass news agency.
Russian online news channel Mash posted on Telegram that another Mi-8 helicopter and a Su-35 warplane crashed in the same area on Saturday.
Russian media report that a Russian helicopter has crashed in Klintsy, Bryansk region (about 50 km from the border with Ukraine) . Official sources say it was due to an engine fire.
In the meantime, Russian Telegram channels report that a helicopter was downed by Russian air… pic.twitter.com/Wz6o1SI5wW
— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) May 13, 2023
This was also reported by Russian media outlet Readovka, who said: “Two helicopters and fighter-bombers were shot down by the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Our pilots were ambushed and we are talking about a carefully planned operation.” Newsweek has been unable to independently verify reports of the additional crashes.
But Russian authorities on Saturday insisted the cause of the crash was engine failure.
Two people died in the helicopter blast, according to Tass. Speaking to the news agency, a source said: “The helicopter crashed in the city of Klintsy, according to preliminary data, due to an engine fire.”
Russian Telegram channels post a video from Klintsy, Bryansk region, saying it is a Su aircraft that is burning.
No official confirmation has been made by Russian authorities. pic.twitter.com/KANCnbzgRk
— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) May 13, 2023
Anton Gerashchenko, adviser to the Ukrainian Internal Affairs Ministry, also shared a video that appeared to show the burning wreckage of the Russian Su-34 jet.
