A cargo plane from the Russian defense ministry crashed in the Ivanovo region, northeast of Moscow, shortly after departing from a western Russian air base.
The aircraft, identified as an Ilyushin Il-76, carried 15 individuals, including eight crew members and seven passengers.
Tragically, there are no reported survivors, according to Russian online media.
The Russian defense minister has suggested that the crash might have been triggered by an engine fire during takeoff.
Disturbing online videos depict the plane engulfed in flames shortly before the crash, with one engine visibly on fire.
The crash site is marked by a dark plume of smoke emanating from the wreckage.
A viral post on X (formerly Twitter) showcases a chilling image of the aircraft with one engine in flames, descending rapidly toward the ground.
The photo captures the moment just before the plane crashes, with a dark plume of smoke rising from the impact site.
This incident follows a previous significant plane crash involving a Russian military transport aircraft, specifically an Ilyushin-76, in the southern Belgorod region near Ukraine in January.
The Russian Ministry of Defence in a statement revealed that the plane was transporting 65 captured Ukrainian military personnel intended for a potential prisoner exchange.
Subsequent to the crash, Ukrainian military intelligence released a statement accusing Russia of endangering the lives of prisoners of war.
