I remember this crash from some time ago. It was explained that a hot dog
pilot tried to retract the gear at basically zero-zero altitude and then
pull up. But he screwed up the timing and the aircraft dropped downwards
and he couldn't recover.

If memory serves the plane was picked by a crane, the gear extened, bad
panel work replaced and it flew in a short period of time.

The Russians build them rugged.

MikeT