A Russian military plane has crashed in the occupied Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea, killing 29 people on board, the Russian defense ministry has reported.
Wreckage of the An-26 aircraft was found after the plane lost contact during a 'routine flight', as stated by the ministry.
The ministry has attributed the crash to a 'technical failure' and noted that there was no external damage to the aircraft, suggesting it was not hit by missiles, drones, or birds.
There were seven crew members and 23 passengers aboard the flight over Crimea, which has been under Russian control since its annexation in 2014.
Russia's Investigative Committee confirmed the crash and has initiated an inquiry into a violation of flight safety.
According to news agency Tass, communication with the plane was lost around 18:00 local time, and wreckage was discovered following a search and rescue operation.
Ukraine has not commented on the incident.
The An-26 is a Soviet-era aircraft primarily used for military transport, carrying cargo and passengers over short to medium distances. It is manufactured by Antonov, a Ukrainian aerospace company.
These aircraft have been involved in multiple deadly incidents since their introduction in the late 1960s.
Amid ongoing conflict, Ukrainian forces have targeted Russian military installations in Crimea since Russia's full-scale invasion began four years ago. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has continuously called for the withdrawal of Russian forces from Crimea.
