Warplane crashes into Russian flats killing at least 13 people including three children

Rescuers have uncovered the bodies of more than a dozen people - including three children - after a warplane crashed into a block of flats in Russia.

A nine-storey building was severely damaged in the Russian city of Yeysk on Monday after being struck by a Su-34 fighter bomber shortly after take-off in an apparent military accident.

Video footage from the scene showed a large fire burning through the building after the impact.

Alexei Kuznetsov, an aide to the Russian health minister, confirmed late on Monday that 19 people suffered injuries from the crash.

Interfax news agency reported the total death toll has now reached 13. Three of the dead were reported to be children.

Three children are among the dead after the Su-34 jet hit a residential building in Yeysk (AFP via Getty Images)

Around 250 people were also evacuated following the crash, including 40 children, authorities said.

Russian state-owned news agency RIA said the crash occurred during a training flight from a military airfield.

Pilots reportedly ejected soon after discovering the plane's engine had caught fire on take-off, with the plane's fuel then igniting when it collided with the building.

Russian state media said the crash took place during a training flight from a military airfield (AFP via Getty Images)

In a statement, the defence ministry said: "On October 17, 2022, a Su-34 aircraft crashed upon a climb during its training flight from a military airfield in the Southern Military District. The plane crashed within the city limits of Yeysk.

"The plane’s fuel caught fire after the Su-34 crashed into the courtyard of a residential building."

A total of 13 people have now been reported dead following a fighter plane crash in Russia (AFP via Getty Images)

The plane was reported to have been loaded with munitions at the time of the accident, though this has since been denied by local government.

Krasnodar regional governor Veniamin Kondratyev told local reporters: "If that had been the case, then only half the building would be here."

The port town of Yeysk lies on the Taganrog Gulf of the Sea of Azov, which borders Ukraine (AFP via Getty Images)

Russia's state Investigative Committee has opened an investigation into the incident and dispatched officers to the scene.

The Kremlin said Vladimir Putin had ordered all necessary help to be provided to victims. He also ordered the health minister to fly to the region.

Yeysk is a resort and port on the shore of the Taganrog Gulf of the Sea of Azov in Krasnodar region, which borders Ukraine.