Russian An-26 transport aircraft crashes over occupied Crimea, killing 29
Editor's note: This is a developing story and is being updated.
A Russian An-26 transport aircraft crashed in occupied Crimea late on March 31, killing 29 military personnel on board, the Russian Defense Ministry reported.
The ministry claimed on April 1 that six crew members and 23 passengers aboard the An-26 aircraft were confirmed dead.
"A search and rescue team has located the crash site of the An-26 aircraft," the Russian Defense Ministry said. "The preliminary cause of the crash is a technical malfunction."
A criminal case was opened into the crash of the aircraft due to alleged violations of Article 351 of the Russian Criminal Code which pertains to violations of flight rules or regulations governing flight preparation, according to a report from the Russian Investigative Committee press office.
Search efforts have been ongoing in the mountainous area where the crash reportedly occurred, involving military investigators, rescue workers, police officers, and forensic experts, Russian state media outlet RIA Novosti Crimea reported on April 1.
Russian state media TASS, citing its sources, said on April 1 that the aircraft crashed into a cliff.
RIA Novosti, citing the Russian Defense Ministry, first reported that the fate of the aircraft and crew was unknown, with a search and rescue team dispatched. The Defense Ministry further claimed that "there was no evidence of external damage to the aircraft" amid the loss of contact.
Russia's Defense Ministry claimed that the aircraft lost contact with radar around 6 p.m. local time.
The Kyiv Independent cannot immediately verify the reports nor claims made by Russian officials. The exact location of the crash was not immediately clear.
Ukraine's military has not commented on the reported crash.
Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) previously destroyed two Russian An-26 transport aircraft in a drone attack on occupied Crimea in September 2025 as part of ongoing efforts to destroy high-value Russian assets on the peninsula.
The An-26, a Soviet-era twin-engine turboprop aircraft, has been widely used for short- and medium-haul transport, capable of carrying up to 40 troops or 5.5 tons of cargo.
Annexed by Russia in 2014, Crimea has served as a regular target of Ukrainian attacks.
On March 24, Ukrainian forces destroyed a Zircon hypersonic missile launcher in occupied Crimea during an overnight strike, Ukraine's military intelligence agency said.
