A terrible accident took the lives of 25 people - crew members and cadets of Ivan Kozhedub Kharkiv National Air Force University. Two critically injured cadets were taken to the hospital.

Training flights on the An-26 aircraft started at 6.50 pm and were to last until 10.50 pm. The course provided for combat flight and navigation training of the cadets. 

Allegedly, the cadets did not exercise direct control of the aircraft. The crew commander was obliged with this task. After passing a part of the route at 8.38 pm, he reported to the air traffic controller about the failure of the left engine, at 8.40 pm - asked for landing, at 8.43 pm - passed the last NDB, and at 8.45 pm - the plane crash happened.

There were 27 Ukrainians on board, in particular, 20 cadets and 7 crew members.

No black box has been found so far. In order to find it, law enforcement fenced the crash area and are currently guarding it.

The SBU, Military Prosecutor's Office and the State Bureau of Investigations are working at the scene.

The investigation is ongoing. The circumstances, causes and conditions of the plane crash are being established.

We express our sincere condolences to the families and friends of perished cadets and crew members. We grieve with you.