[RYAN ROBERTSON]

A RUSSIAN NUCLEAR BOMBER ERUPTED INTO FLAMES MID-AIR — BEFORE CRASHING IN SIBERIA. 

IT HAPPENED DURING A ROUTINE FLIGHT FAR FROM ANY BATTLEFIELD —AT LEAST ONE CREW MEMBER DIED. VIDEOS SHARED ON SOCIAL MEDIA SHOWED  THE FINAL MOMENTS OF THE TU-22M3 BOMBER’S FLIGHT BEFORE IT PLUMMETED INTO AN UNINHABITED AREA.

THE  BOMBER IS A KEY PART OF RUSSIA’S STRATEGIC AIR FORCE — AND WAS USED IN THE WAR WITH UKRAINE — THE RUSSIAN DEFENSE MINISTRY SAYS THE CRASH WAS LIKELY CAUSED BY A TECHNICAL MALFUNCTION, WITH ONE OF THE ENGINES CATCHING FIRE. THE MINISTRY ALSO SAID THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO NEARBY RESIDENTIAL AREAS.

ACCORDING TO THE REGIONAL GOVERNOR, THE CREW MEMBERS STEERED THE PLANE AWAY FROM RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS AND THEN ATTEMPTED TO PARACHUTE TO SAFETY AFTER EJECTING FROM THE AIRCRAFT. 

WHILE EARLY REPORTS SUGGESTED ALL HAD SURVIVED, IT WAS  LATER REVEALED ONE PILOT DIED FROM THEIR INJURIES. THE REMAINING CREW MEMBERS WERE HOSPITALIZED WITH VARYING DEGREES OF INJURY,  BUT ARE EXPECTED TO RECOVER.

AS INVESTIGATIONS CONTINUE — AUTHORITIES STRESSED THE NEED FOR CAUTION AND REASSURED THE PUBLIC  THERE IS NO IMMEDIATE THREAT. 

SOME ANALYSTS POINT TO INCIDENTS LIKE THIS AND OTHER FAILING INFRASTRUCTURE AROUND RUSSIA AS PROOF THE ECONOMIC SANCTIONS AGAINST THE COUNTRY ARE WORKING. AFTER IT INVADED UKRAINE–RUSSIA WAS CUT OFF FROM MOST WESTERN PARTS SUPPLIERS–

SO KEEPING ITS PLANES FLYING, OR TRAINS RUNNING, IS PROVING MORE AND MORE DIFFICULT FOR THE KREMLIN. 

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