Governor of Murmansk Region Confirms Death of Lieutenant General Alexander Otrushenko in AN-26 Crash in Crimea

Andrei Chibis, the Governor of the Murmansk Region of the Russian Federation, has confirmed the information that Lieutenant General Alexander Otrushenko was among the casualties resulting from the crash of the military transport aircraft AN-26, which occurred in temporarily occupied Crimea on March 31. This information was made public on Monday, April 6, by the Russian propaganda agency Interfax.

According to preliminary data, Chibis also noted that among those who perished in the AN-26 crash were servicemen from the Northern Fleet. The military transport aircraft that crashed went down in the occupied Crimea near the village of Kuibyshevo in the Bakhchysarai district. The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that the probable cause of the crash is a technical malfunction; however, the exact circumstances of the tragedy remain unknown.

Russian propaganda media reported that the aircraft collided with a cliff, which may have contributed to the disaster. According to the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation, there were 30 people on board the aircraft, of whom seven were crew members. Unfortunately, all of them lost their lives as a result of the crash.

On April 2, the BBC, citing sources, reported that Lieutenant General Alexander Otrushenko was likely on board the crashed AN-26. This information was confirmed by Governor Chibis, underscoring the significance of the deceased in the context of military events.

Alexander Otrushenko, born on March 15, 1965, commanded the naval aviation of the Black Sea Fleet of Russia from 2010 to 2013. Following this, he led the naval aviation of the Northern Fleet and also commanded the 45th Army of the Air Force and Air Defense of the Northern Fleet. In 2019, he was awarded the rank of lieutenant general, reflecting his substantial contribution to military affairs.

It is noteworthy that in 2014, Otrushenko participated in the annexation of Crimea, and he was later involved in the Russian military operation in Syria, highlighting his active participation in military conflicts that have drawn international criticism. In 2024, Alexander Otrushenko became the commander of the mixed aviation corps of the Northern Fleet, further confirming his significance in the military hierarchy of Russia.

This crash marks yet another tragic episode in the history of Russian military aviation, which has repeatedly faced similar incidents. Authorities continue to investigate the causes of the crash; however, no official conclusions have been released thus far.