Ukrainian Navy Reports Own Aircraft Shot Down During Operations in Crimea
Officials from the Ukrainian Naval Forces confirmed that, during the night of October 17, a Russian air defense system shot down its own military aircraft over the temporarily occupied Crimea.
According to Navy spokesperson Dmytro Pletenchuk, this incident was a consequence of repelling a Ukrainian drone attack, which caused the invaders’ air defense to mistakenly hit their own aircraft.
The specific model of the downed plane has not been disclosed; however, social media sources suggest it might have been a Su-30SМ.
Concurrently, a fire broke out at a fuel depot in Crimea, illustrating the intensity of Ukrainian resistance.
According to the General Staff, Ukrainian intelligence intercepted radio communications confirming that the Russian Su-30SМ pilot had to eject during combat.
This incident demonstrates the complexities and tensions of ongoing hostilities, where sometimes Russian forces inadvertently shoot down their own aircraft during defensive actions against Ukrainian drone attacks.