Photo: Social media
New details have emerged following the crash of a Ukrainian Su-24M frontline bomber in the Khmelnytskyi region on 16 June. The aircraft’s flight recorders have been recovered, and specialists have begun decoding the data to determine the cause of the accident.
The crash claimed the lives of both crew members:
- Major Bohdan Zaharulko, a highly experienced pilot and test aviator associated with the Antonov aviation enterprise;
- Senior Lieutenant Bohdan Babenko, a graduate of the Ivan Kozhedub Kharkiv National Air Force University (KhNUPS).
According to the Ukrainian Air Force, the aircraft was performing a planned flight mission when the accident occurred. The Su-24M belonged to the 7th Tactical Aviation Brigade named after Petro Franko, based in the Khmelnytskyi region.
A special Ministry of Defense commission is investigating the incident. Experts are analyzing data from the flight recorders, technical documentation, and other evidence collected at the crash site.
Preliminary reports indicate there were no civilian casualties or damage to residential infrastructure on the ground. The official cause of the crash will be announced after the investigation is completed.
The deaths of the two aviators have prompted an outpouring of condolences from Ukraine’s military and aviation communities, which described them as highly skilled officers who served their country with dedication and professionalism.
Ukraine’s Prosecutor General’s Office announced that experts have begun analyzing the circumstances of the Su-24M crash, including the decoding of the aircraft’s flight recorders.
“Initial investigative actions are ongoing. Investigators are establishing all circumstances of the tragedy, including the aircraft’s technical condition, compliance with flight preparation and operational procedures, as well as other factors that may have contributed to the crash,” the Prosecutor General’s Office said. “Measures are being taken to decode the flight recorder, and examination of the crash site is continuing.”
The Ukrainian Air Force and the military unit involved have launched internal investigations. A pre-trial investigation has also been opened under Article 416, Part 2 of Ukraine’s Criminal Code, which concerns violations of flight or flight-preparation regulations resulting in serious consequences.
In addition, Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense has established a special commission to determine the exact cause of the accident. Investigators will analyze technical data, maintenance records, crew actions, and information from the recovered flight recorders before reaching final conclusions.
