A Russian Su-30 fighter jet crashed on Wednesday, 21 October, in Kaliningrad Oblast during a training flight. According to Moscow’s Defence Ministry, both pilots ejected and survived.
The statement from the Russian Ministry of Defence was reported by the agency TASS. The ministry said the aircraft crashed during a planned training flight. The crew ejected and was evacuated by a ground search and rescue team. The ministry assured that “the pilots’ lives are not in danger”. The aircraft carried no ammunition on board and fell in an uninhabited area.
Where the crash occurred
According to Russian media and Telegram channels, cited among others by Polsat News and the portal Charter’97, the incident happened in the Chernyakhovsk district. The aircraft reportedly fell between the villages of Timofeyevka and Zelyony Bor. The time given was 12:53 Minsk time, which is Moscow time. It was the same time in Poland. Russian broadcaster REN TV, citing its source, identified the aircraft as a Su-30SM. The Defence Ministry statement refers only to the Su-30.
A video that is said to show the moment of the crash has appeared online. It was published by the channel Exilenova+. The Ukrainian outlet Censor.net writes that the footage was filmed by a witness at a cemetery. The authenticity and location of the recording have not been confirmed by independent institutions.
Condition of the pilots
The Russian Defence Ministry did not say whether the pilots were injured. According to the Mash and 112 channels, cited by Polsat News via the independent Russian broadcaster Dozhd, both were injured and taken to a military hospital. Channel 112 reportedly described their condition as moderately serious. These are unofficial reports, and the ministry has not confirmed them.
The cause of the crash is not known. The Defence Blog portal writes that a commission is to investigate. The Russian Defence Ministry did not say when it would publish its findings.
Previous Su-30 accidents
As Polsat News recalls, citing AP, another Su-30 crashed in Kaliningrad Oblast during a training flight on 12 August 2023. Both pilots died in that crash, and a technical fault was initially suspected. Defence Blog also lists accidents from the past year: in April a Su-30 fell in Crimea, and in November 2025 a two-person crew died in another aircraft in Karelia.
What it means for Poland
Kaliningrad Oblast borders the Polish voivodeships of Warmian-Masurian and Podlaskie. According to Onet, the crash site lies about 30 km from the Polish border. The Russian Defence Ministry said the aircraft crashed in an uninhabited area and carried no armament. Nothing indicates that the incident involved Polish airspace. As of publication, the Polish military and the Ministry of National Defence have not issued any statement on the matter.
Komentarze