Ukrainian Su-24 Crashes in Khmelnytskyi Oblast, Killing 2 Pilots
Updated
Updated · Kyiv Independent · Jun 16
Ukrainian Su-24 Crashes in Khmelnytskyi Oblast, Killing 2 Pilots
3 articles · Updated · Kyiv Independent · Jun 16
Summary
A Ukrainian Su-24 front-line bomber went down around 7 p.m. on June 16 in Khmelnytskyi Oblast, killing both crew members during a mission, the Air Force said.
The dead were identified as Major Bohdan Hryhorovych Zaharulko and Senior Lieutenant Bohdan Oleksandrovych Babenko, who served with the 7th Tactical Aviation Brigade based at Starokostiantyniv Air Base.
Rescue crews and law enforcement were working at the crash site, while the Air Force said no civilian casualties were reported and the cause remains under investigation.
Local residents had earlier reported an explosion in Shepetivka district and shared footage online, with some posts initially misidentifying the aircraft as a MiG-29.
The loss is notable because Ukraine rarely discloses wartime aircraft losses; the Soviet-era Su-24 is still flown by both Ukraine and Russia.