Su-24M Plane Crash in Khmelnytskyi Oblast: Air Force Releases Details
16 June 22:32
On the evening of June 16, a Su-24M frontline bomber belonging to the Ukrainian Air Force crashed in the Khmelnytskyi region. Both crew members were killed while on a mission. This was reported by the Ukrainian Air Force, according to "Komersant Ukrainian"
What is known about the plane crash
According to the Air Force, the crash occurred around 7:00 p.m. on June 16 in the Khmelnytskyi region.
A Su-24M frontline bomber belonging to the 7th Tactical Aviation Brigade named after Petro Frank of the Ukrainian Air Force crashed.
The aircraft’s crew—a pilot and a navigator—were on a mission.
“A Su-24M frontline bomber belonging to the 7th Tactical Aviation Brigade named after Petro Franko of the Ukrainian Air Force crashed. Unfortunately, both pilots were killed,” the statement reads.
A video from the crash site has appeared on social media
On Tuesday evening, a 4-second video went viral on social media, showing a smoke-filled military aircraft lying in a field.
According to local Telegram channels that shared the video, the incident occurred near Shepetivka in the Khmelnytskyi region. Local residents first heard the sound of the plane, followed by a loud explosion.
The Air Force has not officially disclosed the exact location of the crash.
Who Died in the Su-24M Crash
The Air Force has released the names of the deceased crew members.
The following people were killed in the plane crash:
- Major Bohdan Hryhorovych Zagarulko;
- Senior Lieutenant Bohdan Oleksandrovych Babenko.
“We express our sincere condolences to the families of Major Bohdan Hryhorovych Zagarulko and Senior Lieutenant Bohdan Oleksandrovych Babenko. They defended our country until their last breath,” reads the Air Force’s statement.
Are there any civilian casualties?
According to preliminary information, there are no civilian casualties.
Rescue workers and law enforcement officers are on the scene of the crash. They are dealing with the aftermath of the plane crash and taking the necessary steps to determine all the circumstances of the incident.
The causes of the crash are being investigated
The causes and circumstances of the Su-24M crash are currently being investigated.
There are no official conclusions yet regarding what exactly led to the crash.
In such cases, experts must assess the aircraft’s technical condition, the conditions under which the mission was carried out, the crew’s actions, and other factors that may have influenced the situation.
Until the investigation is complete, official agencies typically do not name the definitive cause of the plane crash.
What is known about the Su-24M
The Su-24M is a frontline bomber used for combat missions. These aircraft are capable of operating in challenging conditions and are used to strike ground targets.
Ukrainian Su-24M crews are carrying out missions in the context of a full-scale war, where every sortie involves high risk.
Watch us on YouTube: important topics – without censorship
The 7th Tactical Aviation Brigade named after Petro Franko
The aircraft that crashed belonged to the 7th Petro Frank Tactical Aviation Brigade. This unit of the Ukrainian Air Force is one of the Ukrainian Army’s key aviation formations.
The brigade’s pilots carry out combat missions under the constant threat of Russian forces.
This is not the first plane crash during the full-scale war
The crash of the Su-24M in the Khmelnytskyi region was yet another heavy loss for the Ukrainian military aviation during the full-scale war.
On August 25, 2023, two L-39 training and combat aircraft collided in the skies over Zhytomyr Oblast. Three pilots were killed in that crash: Major Vyacheslav Minka, Major Serhiy Prokazin, and Captain Andriy Pilshchikov, known by his call sign “Juice.”
“Juice” was a pilot with the 40th Tactical Aviation Brigade. He flew the MiG-29 and actively advocated for the transfer of F-16 aircraft to Ukraine. Pilshchikov appealed to Western partners to provide Ukraine with modern aircraft in interviews with leading international media outlets, including the Washington Post, the Financial Times, CNN, Fox News, and BBC News.
On August 26, 2024, while repelling one of the largest missile strikes, pilot Oleksiy Mes, call sign “Moonfish,” was killed at the controls of an F-16. Together with “Juice,” he also advocated to international audiences for the transfer of modern air weapons to Ukraine.
On March 9, the Ukrainian Air Force reported that Hero of Ukraine Colonel Oleksandr Dovgach—commander of the 39th Tactical Aviation Brigade—had been killed on the Eastern Front.
Read us on Telegram: important topics – without censorship
