SBI questions witnesses of Su-24M crash in Khmelnytsky region

SBI questions witnesses of a Su-24M crash in Ukraine’s Khmelnytsky region, denying online claims that one pilot ejected during the June 16, 2026 incident. The State Bureau of Investigation said investigators are continuing to establish all circumstances around the deaths of two servicemen and has already questioned witnesses, while molecular genetic testing confirmed the identities of the dead through DNA. Officials reported the sortie was the aircraft’s second flight of the day, with technical staff finding no issues before either takeoff and all documentation completed in line with regulations. The pilots were performing a combat mission, but details are withheld for national security. The criminal investigation is under Part 2 of Article 416 of Ukraine’s Criminal Code, with procedural guidance by the Khmelnytsky Specialized Prosecutor’s Office in Defense Sphere of Western Region.