Alexandrov Ensemble Choir: 64 members die in Tu-154 crash

On 25 December 2016, a Russian Defence Ministry Tupolev Tu-154 carrying 64 members of the Alexandrov Ensemble Choir went down 1.5 km (0.93 mi) off the coast of Sochi, Russia while en route to Latakia, Syria for a Christmas celebration with the troops deployed at Khmeimim military base. The plane crashed with no survivors.

• Alexandrov Ensemble was founded in 1928 during the Soviet era
• It takes its name from its first director, Alexander Vasilyevich Alexandrov, who wrote the music to the national anthem of the Soviet Union
• All members of the Alexandrov Ensemble choir, except for three lead vocalists, were on board the plane when it crashed, Vadim Ananiev, a lead vocalist from the choir, told TASS.
• Investigation conclusion: Spatial disorientation after take off, pilot error

Расцветали яблони и груши,	Apple and pear trees were a-blooming,
Rastsvetali iabloni i grushi,
Поплыли туманы над рекой.	Mist (was) creeping on the river.
Poplyli tumany nad rekoj.
Выходила на берег Катюша,	Katyusha set out on the banks,
Vykhodila na bereg Katyusha,
На высокий берег на крутой.	On the steep and lofty bank.
Na vysokij bereg na krutoj.
Выходила, песню заводила	She was walking, singing a song
Vykhodila, pesniu zavodila
Про степного, сизого орла,	About a grey steppe eagle,
Pro stepnogo, sizogo orla,
Про того, которого любила,	About her true love,
Pro togo, kotorogo liubila,
Про того, чьи письма берегла.	Whose letters she was keeping.
Pro togo, chi pisma beregla.
Ой ты, песня, песенка девичья,	Oh you song! Little song of a maiden,
Oj ty, pesnia, pesenka devichia,
Ты лети за ясным солнцем вслед.	Head for the bright sun.
Ty leti za iasnym solntsem vsled.
И бойцу на дальнем пограничье	And reach for the soldier on the far-away border
I bojtsu na dalnem pograniche
От Катюши передай привет.	Along with greetings from Katyusha.
Ot Katyushi peredaj privet.
Пусть он вспомнит девушку простую,	Let him remember an ordinary girl,
Pust on vspomnit devushku prostuiu,
Пусть услышит, как она поет,	And hear how she sings,
Pust uslyshit, kak ona poet,
Пусть он землю бережет родную,	Let him preserve the Motherland,
Pust on zemliu berezhet rodnuiu,
А любовь Катюша сбережет.	Same as Katyusha preserves their love.
A liubov Katyusha sberezhet.