2023 Bryansk Oblast military aircraft crashes

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2023 Bryansk Oblast military aircraft crashes
Occurrence
Date13 May 2023 (2023-05-13)
SummaryShot down
Site Bryansk Oblast, Russia, near the border with Ukraine
Total fatalities9

On the morning of 13 May 2023, an air group of four aircraft of the Russian Air Force crashed almost simultaneously in the Bryansk Oblast of Russia: two Mi-8 helicopters, a Su-34 fighter-bomber and a Su-35 fighter. [1] [2] According to Baza, nine people were killed: three crew members each in two Mi-8s, two Su-34 pilots and a Su-35 pilot. [1]

Contents

The incident occurred on the backdrop of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. [3] According to Kommersant , the group was heading to bomb Chernihiv Oblast in Ukraine. [1]

Background

During the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Russian troops repeatedly shelled the Chernihiv and Sumy oblasts of Ukraine, as well as the city of Kharkiv bordering Russia. At the same time, the heads of western Russian provinces, Belgorod, Bryansk and Kursk oblasts, regularly announced supposed artillery shelling and attacks against the regions. [3]

On the eve of the incident in Bryansk Oblast, on 12 May, a Russian military helicopter Mi-28 crashed in the Dzhankoi Raion of the Russian-annexed Crimea. [3] [4]

Incident

According to Kommersant , the fallen aircraft were part of the same aviation group. The fighters were supposed to launch a missile strike on Ukraine's Chernihiv Oblast, while the helicopters were to "insure" the aircrews were safe and to make sure the Russian soldiers did not get shot down by the Ukrainian forces. [5]

According to Russian military officers, both Mi-8 helicopters crashed over Klintsy, while the Su-34 and Su-35 fighters crashed near the border with Ukraine in the Starodubsky District, According to Russian authorities, the incident injured a civilian woman and damaged five households on the ground. [1]

It was reported that one of the downed helicopters was a rare modification, Mi-8MTPR-1. Helicopters of this type are equipped with the Rychag-AV electronic warfare system, which was used to detect enemy radar stations and install radar jamming. [6]

Versions

Various versions of what could have happened were put forward. According to one of them, the military aircraft could have been shot down by saboteurs with MANPADS who penetrated into Bryansk Oblast from Ukraine. Ukrainian Telegram channels suggested the aircraft could have been shot down by friendly fire from Russian air defense forces. [7] There was also a version that Ukrainian aircraft could have shot down Russian targets from Ukrainian territory using AIM-120 medium-range missiles. [8]

Reactions

Yurii Ihnat, Speaker of the Air Forces Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, said that the Ukrainian army was not involved in the crashes of aircraft in Bryansk Oblast, but said that "Russian air defense is involved". At the same time, Ihnat claimed that the Russians lost in fact five aircraft: three helicopters and two airplanes. [9]

Yevgeny Prigozhin, the then head of the Wagner Group, also hinted that Russian air defense systems could have been involved in the crashes: "Four planes, if you draw a circle around the places where they fell, it turns out that this circle with a diameter (where they all lie exactly in the circle) is 40 kilometers. That is, the radius of the circle is 20 kilometers. Now go to the Internet and see what kind of air defense weapon could be located in the center of this circle, and then build your own versions." [10]

President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko said that Belarusian troops were put on high alert due to events in Russia's Bryansk Oblast, where "four aircraft were shot down". [11] [12]

The Wall Street Journal correspondent Yaroslav Trofimov suggested this incident constituted the "worst day for the Russian military aviation since the first week of the war, when Moscow assumed that it had destroyed Ukrainian air defences". [13]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bryansk Oblast</span> First-level administrative division of Russia

Bryansk Oblast, also known as Bryanshchina, is a federal subject of Russia. Its administrative center is the city of Bryansk. As of the 2021 Census, its population was 1,169,161.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bryansk</span> City in Bryansk Oblast, Russia

Bryansk is a city and the administrative center of Bryansk Oblast, Russia, situated on the Desna River, 379 kilometers (235 mi) southwest of Moscow. It has a population of 379,152 at the 2021 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Starodub</span> Town in Bryansk Oblast, Russia

Starodub Ukrainian & is a town in Bryansk Oblast, Russia, on the Babinets River in the Dnieper basin, 169 kilometers (105 mi) southwest of Bryansk. Population: 17,687 (2021 Census); 19,010 (2010 Census); 18,643 (2002 Census); 18,906 (1989 Soviet census); 16,000 (1975).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Russian Air Force</span> Branch of the Russian Aerospace Forces

The Russian Air Force is a branch of the Russian Aerospace Forces, the latter being formed on 1 August 2015 with the merging of the Russian Air Force and the Russian Aerospace Defence Forces. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the reborn Russian armed forces began to be created on 7 May 1992 following Boris Yeltsin's creation of the Ministry of Defence. However, the Russian Federation's air force can trace its lineage and traditions back to the Imperial Russian Air Service (1912–1917) and the Soviet Air Forces (1918–1991).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sevsk, Bryansk Oblast</span> Town in Bryansk Oblast, Russia

Sevsk is a town and the administrative center of Sevsky District in Bryansk Oblast, Russia, located on the Sev River, 142 kilometers (88 mi) from Bryansk, the administrative center of the oblast. Population: 6,732 (2021 Census); 7,282 (2010 Census); 7,660 (2002 Census); 7,820 (1989 Soviet census).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pochep, Bryansk Oblast</span> Town in Bryansk Oblast, Russia

Pochep is a town and the administrative center of Pochepsky District in Bryansk Oblast, Russia, located 84 kilometers (52 mi) southwest of Bryansk, the administrative center of the oblast. Population: 14,991 (2021 Census); 17,161 (2010 Census); 17,064 (2002 Census); 16,868 (1989 Soviet census).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Klintsy</span> Town in Bryansk Oblast, Russia

Klintsy is a town in Bryansk Oblast, Russia, located on the Turosna River, 164 kilometers southwest of Bryansk. Population: 63,059 (2021 Census); 62,510 (2010 Census); 67,325 (2002 Census); 71,161 (1989 Soviet census); 60,000 (1972).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Surazh, Russia</span> Town in Bryansk Oblast, Russia

Surazh is a town and the administrative center of Surazhsky District in Bryansk Oblast, Russia, located on the Iput River 177 kilometers (110 mi) southwest of Bryansk, the administrative center of the oblast. Population: 11,176 (2021 Census); 11,640 (2010 Census); 12,046 (2002 Census); 12,559 (1989 Soviet census); 1,599 (1897).

Zlynka is a town and the administrative center of Zlynkovsky District in Bryansk Oblast, Russia, located on the Zlynka River 225 kilometers (140 mi) southwest of Bryansk, the administrative center of the oblast, and close to the border with Belarus. Population: 5,270 (2021 Census); 5,507 (2010 Census); 5,372 (2002 Census); 5,586 (1989 Soviet census).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brasovsky District</span> District in Bryansk Oblast, Russia

Brasovsky District is an administrative and municipal district (raion), one of the twenty-seven in Bryansk Oblast, Russia. It is located in the east of the oblast. The area of the district is 1,185 square kilometers (458 sq mi). Its administrative center is the urban locality of Lokot. Population: 21,471 (2010 Census); 24,972 ; 26,873 (1989 Soviet census). The population of Lokot accounts for 46.7% of the district's total population.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bryansky District</span> District in Bryansk Oblast, Russia

Bryansky District is an administrative and municipal district (raion), one of the twenty-seven in Bryansk Oblast, Russia. It is located in the northeast of the oblast. The area of the district is 1,801 square kilometers (695 sq mi). Its administrative center is the rural locality of Glinishchevo. Population: 71,266 (2021 Census); 56,496 (2010 Census); 52,959 ; 72,530 (1989 Soviet census).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Karachevsky District</span> District in Bryansk Oblast, Russia

Karachevsky District is an administrative and municipal district (raion), one of the twenty-seven in Bryansk Oblast, Russia. It is located in the east of the oblast. The area of the district is 1,408 square kilometers (544 sq mi). Its administrative center is the town of Karachev. Population: 32,279 (2021 Census); 36,036 (2010 Census); 37,857 ; 41,428 (1989 Soviet census). The population of Karachev accounts for 54.1% of the district's total population.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zhiryatinsky District</span> District in Bryansk Oblast, Russia

Zhiryatinsky District is an administrative and municipal district (raion), one of the twenty-seven in Bryansk Oblast, Russia. It is located in the center of the oblast. The area of the district is 742 square kilometers (286 sq mi). Its administrative center is the rural locality of Zhiryatino. Population: 6,568 (2021 Census); 7,442 (2010 Census); 8,207 ; 8,796 (1989 Soviet census). The population of Zhiryatino accounts for 34.1% of the district's population.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zhukovsky District, Bryansk Oblast</span> District in Bryansk Oblast, Russia

Zhukovsky District is an administrative and municipal district (raion), one of the twenty-seven in Bryansk Oblast, Russia. It is located in the north of the oblast. The area of the district is 1,114 square kilometers (430 sq mi). Its administrative center is the town of Zhukovka. As of the 2021 Census, the total population of the district was 33,943, with the population of Zhukovka accounting for 52.5% of that number.

Bolshoye Polpino is an urban locality under the administrative jurisdiction of the town of oblast significance of Bryansk of Bryansk Oblast, Russia. Population: 5,859 (2021 Census); 6,356 (2010 Census); 4,613 (2002 Census); 6,374 (1989 Soviet census).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Attacks in Russia during the Russian invasion of Ukraine</span> Reported cross-border incidents in Western Russia

There have been attacks in mainland Russia as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which began on 24 February 2022. The main targets have been the military, the arms industry and the oil industry. Many of the attacks have been drone strikes, firebombing, and rail sabotage. The Ukrainian intelligence services have acknowledged carrying out some of these attacks. Others have been carried out by anti-war activists in Russia. There have also been cross-border shelling, missile strikes, and covert raids from Ukraine, mainly in Belgorod, Kursk, and Bryansk oblasts. Several times, Ukrainian-based paramilitaries launched incursions into Russia, captured border villages and battled the Russian military. These were carried out by units made up mainly of Russian emigrants. While Ukraine supported these ground incursions, it denied direct involvement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Operation Synytsia</span> Ukrainian military intelligence operation

Operation Synytsia was an operation conducted by Ukraine's Main Directorate of Intelligence to facilitate the defection of Russian Mi-8 helicopter pilot Maxim Kuzminov. After previously arranging his defection and the simultaneous escape of his family, on 9 August 2023, Kuzminov turned off radio communications and landed near Poltava, Kharkiv Oblast, where Ukrainian forces received him.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Источники «Коммерсанта» сообщили о 4 упавших воздушных судах в Брянской области. Глава региона подтвердил крушение только одного вертолета". Новая газета Европа. Archived from the original on 14 September 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  2. ↑ "Падения российских летательных аппаратов в Брянской области: что известно". BBC News (in Russian). 13 May 2023. Archived from the original on 14 September 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 "У Брянській області Росії впали вертоліт і літак Су-34 – російські ЗМІ". Radio Free Europe (in Ukrainian). 13 May 2023. Archived from the original on 14 September 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  4. ↑ "В аннексированном Крыму потерпел крушение военный вертолёт". Radio Free Europe (in Russian). 12 May 2023. Archived from the original on 14 September 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  5. ↑ ""Похоже на ракетную засаду". Военный эксперт рассказал, кто и как мог сбить российские самолеты и вертолеты в Брянской области". Настоящее Время (in Russian). 15 May 2023. Archived from the original on 14 September 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  6. ↑ "Россия расстреляла свои самолеты и вертолеты под Брянском сама? Разбираемся, как случился «черный день российской авиации»". Zerkalo.io (in Russian). 15 May 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  7. ↑ "Украина заявила о перехвате якобы несбиваемой российской гиперзвуковой ракеты "Кинжал". Как это получилось?". BBC News (in Russian). Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  8. ↑ "В Брянской области разбился вертолет и, вероятно, самолет (а возможно, два вертолета и два самолета) Власти ничего не объясняют — и в интернете появляются самые разные версии. Вот основные". Meduza (in Russian). Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  9. ↑ "Что упало — то пропало. Все, кто только может — ВСУ, Z-военкоры, Пригожин, — говорят, что под Брянском сбито два вертолета и два истребителя ВС РФ. Молчат только российские военные. Возможно, они их и сбили". Новая газета Европа. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  10. ↑ "Пригожин допустил, что к крушению авиагруппы РФ в Брянской области причастна российская ПВО". Meduza (in Russian). Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  11. ↑ "Лукашенко заявил о повышенной готовности белорусских войск — потому что в Брянской области «были сбиты четыре воздушных судна»". Meduza (in Russian). Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  12. ↑ Walker, Shaun (15 May 2023). "Images of Lukashenko released after rumours over Belarusian leader's health". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  13. ↑ Gregory, Andy (13 May 2023). "Video shows moment helicopter 'shot down' over Russia as 'multiple aircraft downed' in Bryansk". The Independent .
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