A Russian military plane has crashed in the occupied Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea, killing 29 people on board, the Russian defense ministry has reported. Wreckage of the An-26 aircraft was discovered after it lost contact with authorities during a 'routine flight.' While the ministry blamed a 'technical failure' for the crash, it indicated that there were no external damages, suggesting that other causes such as missiles or drones were not involved. The plane had seven crew members and 23 passengers aboard when it went down. Russia's Investigative Committee is looking into flight safety violations related to the incident. Communication was lost around 18:00 local time, and the wreckage was located following a search operation. Ukraine has yet to comment on the crash, which adds to the ongoing tensions in a region that has seen conflict since Russia's annexation in 2014. The An-26 is a Soviet-era aircraft widely utilized for military purposes, including the transport of cargo and personnel. This crash follows a history of similar incidents involving this model in recent years, raising concerns about safety amidst the ongoing military activities.