In a tragic incident, a Russian military transport plane carrying 15 people on board crashed during takeoff from an air base in the Ivanovo region of western Russia on Tuesday. The Defense Ministry confirmed that the aircraft involved in the crash was an Il-76, a heavy-lift transport plane that has been in service since the 1970s.

The ministry stated that the ill-fated flight comprised of eight crew members and seven passengers, but did not provide any information regarding potential survivors. Ivanovo Governor Stanislav Voskresensky expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and assured that there was no damage reported on the ground.

Preliminary investigations suggest that an engine fire during takeoff could have been the likely cause of the tragic incident. A team of investigators has been dispatched to Ivanovo to probe into the crash. Russian media broadcasted a distressing video footage, showing the aircraft descending with at least one engine engulfed in flames. The video also captured a helicopter circling the crash site amidst a dark plume of smoke, according to Reuters news agency.

The crash comes shortly after another similar incident involving the same type of plane occurred near the Ukrainian border. It is worth noting that during the past two years of Russia's offensive in Ukraine, the country has witnessed a significant increase in the transportation of troops and military equipment across its territory by air and land. Consequently, military experts have observed an alarming rise in the number of crashes, highlighting the potential challenges faced by the Russian military in maintaining its operational capacity.

Additionally, the Defense Ministry reported numerous attacks by Ukrainian drones on Russia on the same day as the crash. In the past, Ukrainian drones have targeted military air bases deep inside Russian territory. These incidents emphasize the ongoing tensions between the two countries.

Notably, earlier this year in January, Russia accused Ukraine of downing an Il-76 aircraft near the shared border while it was carrying Ukrainian prisoners of war. However, investigations did not provide conclusive evidence regarding this claim.

As the investigation into the latest crash is underway, national and international attention is focused on the safety measures employed by the Russian military and the potential implications for its ongoing operations.