Russian fighter aircraft crashes into flats in Yeysk close to Ukraine

Russian fighter aircraft crashed right into a residential constructing within the southern Russian metropolis of Yeysk on Monday, engulfing flats in flames, the regional governor mentioned.

Footage confirmed a big fireball erupting from a multi-storey constructing. Russian information businesses mentioned the pilots had ejected.

Governor Veniamin Kondratyev mentioned the aircraft was a Sukhoi Su-34, a supersonic medium-range fighter-bomber.

RIA information company mentioned it crashed throughout a coaching flight from a navy airfield. TASS mentioned the crash was brought on by an engine hearth.

Russia’s state Investigative Committee, which offers with critical crimes, mentioned it had opened a felony case and despatched investigators to the scene. It didn’t say what proof pointed to potential foul play.

Interfax quoted the Kremlin as saying President Vladimir Putin had been knowledgeable, and had ordered all needed assist to be supplied to victims. The well being and emergencies ministers had been ordered to fly to the area, it mentioned.

“Emergency services are already working on the spot – all regional fire and rescue garrisons are engaged in extinguishing the fire,” Kondratyev, governor of the Krasnodar area which incorporates Yeysk, wrote on Telegram.

He mentioned the hearth had damaged out in a nine-storey constructing. “The fire engulfed several floors at once. Seventeen apartments were preliminarily damaged,” Kondratyev mentioned. “Information about the dead and injured is being clarified. Ambulance crews are on the scene.”

Yeysk is separated from occupied Russian territory in southern Ukraine by a slim stretch of the Sea of Azov.

The incident comes almost eight months after Russia despatched troops into Ukraine.