A Ukrainian Su-24M fighter-bomber crashed Tuesday, June 16, 2026, in western Ukraine, killing both crew members on board. The Ukrainian Air Force confirmed the incident and identified the deceased as Senior Lieutenant Bogdan Gryhorovych Zakharulko and Lieutenant Bogdan Oleksandrovych Babenko.
Unit and Base
The aircraft belonged to the 7th Tactical Aviation Brigade of the Ukrainian Air Force, headquartered at the Starokostiantyniv Air Base in Khmelnytskyi Oblast — a region in western Ukraine.
Operational Role
Since 2023, Ukraine’s Su-24 fleet has been primarily repurposed as launch platforms for Western-supplied long-range cruise missiles, including the Storm Shadow and SCALP-EG systems.
The cause of the crash remains unknown. A formal investigation is expected to be launched by Ukrainian military authorities to determine the circumstances surrounding the accident.