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Ukrainian Su-24 bomber crashes in Khmelnytskyi Oblast, killing pilots, Air Force confirms
The Kyiv Independent • • world
Key Points:
- A Ukrainian Su-24 bomber crashed in Khmelnytskyi Oblast on June 16, killing both the pilot and navigator during a mission, according to the Ukrainian Air Force.
- The deceased pilots were identified as Major Bohdan Hryhorovych Zaharulko and Senior Lieutenant Bohdan Oleksandrovych Babenko, both members of the 7th Tactical Aviation Brigade stationed at Starokostiantyniv Air Base.
- The cause of the crash is under investigation, with rescue crews and law enforcement working at the site; no civilian casualties have been reported.
- The Su-24 is a Soviet-era tactical bomber still used by Ukraine and Russia, with Ukraine inheriting these jets after the Soviet Union's dissolution.
- Ukrainian fighter jet losses have been rare during the conflict, with notable recent pilot casualties including two F-16 pilots, Pavlo Ivanov and Oleksii Mes, who died in 2025 and 2024 respectively.
