The Russian military plane crashed on Tuesday during a test flight after repair work, the defence ministry said.

Also TASS state news agency reported seven people were on board at the time of the crash and it was unknown whether they survived.

"Today in the Ivanovo region, during a test flight following repairs, an AN-22 military transport aircraft crashed," state media quoted the defence ministry as saying in a statement.

"The plane went down in an uninhabited area," it added.

Search crews had been deployed and an investigation opened into the accident, the defence ministry said.

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The Ivanovo region is located around 200 kilometres (125 miles) east of Moscow.

There was no suggestion that the incident was connected to Russia's offensive on Ukraine or accusations of involvement by Kyiv.

Emergency teams rushed to the site to search for survivors and recover the wreckage. The An-22, known for its massive size and heavy lifting capability, has been a key part of Russia’s military transport fleet. Experts are closely monitoring the investigation to determine if technical failure, weather, or human error played a role.

This crash raises serious concerns about the safety of older military transport aircraft in Russia. It also highlights the risks faced by crew members operating such massive planes under challenging conditions. Further updates are expected as rescue operations continue.