Russian forces accidentally downed one of their own Sukhoi Su-27 fighter jets over Crimea, as reported by Kyiv.
Ukraine’s Navy spokesman Dmytro Pletenchuk attributed the incident to a state of heightened “combat readiness” over the occupied peninsula on Thursday.
The Moscow-installed leader in Sevastopol, Mikhail Razvozhayev, confirmed that a Russian warplane crashed off the Crimean coast, with the pilot ejecting safely and being rescued.
Russian Telegram channels shared footage of the burning plane as it fell and the ejected pilot’s parachute.
The Crimean Wind Telegram channel claimed that the plane was accidentally shot down by Russian forces after taking off from the Belbek military airfield.
Alain Nogues/Getty Images
However, Pletenchuk confirmed on Ukrainian television that the aircraft belonged to the Russian Federation and was destroyed by their own forces.
He mentioned that the incident was due to human error, with one operator eager for recognition and failing to properly identify the plane.
Russia’s Defense Ministry has not responded to Kyiv’s claims.
In recent months, Russia’s Air Force has experienced significant aircraft losses, while Ukraine is anticipating the deployment of F-16 fighter jets from allies.
Following U.S. approval, a coalition of countries has pledged to provide F-16 jets to Ukraine, enhancing its aviation capabilities.
Belgian and Danish defense ministers have announced support for Ukraine’s acquisition of F-16 fighter jets.
Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that these aircraft could be targeted by Russian pilots, but dismissed speculation of attacking NATO members.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
