Russian fighter jet crashed in occupied Crimea
A Russian fighter jet crashed on the territory of temporarily occupied Crimea. The pilot managed to eject, according to the Telegram channel of the occupation head of Sevastopol, Mikhail Razvozhaev, and Russian media.
Around 5:00 p.m. Kyiv time, videos of an unidentified aircraft crash over Crimea began to circulate on social media. Local residents also captured a parachute in the video, presumably indicating that the pilot managed to eject.
At the same time, sirens were heard in Sevastopol.
Initially, locals claimed that an aircraft had been shot down over Crimea. Later, it was revealed that it was likely a Russian Su-34/Su-35 fighter jet.
Meanwhile, the occupying authorities of the peninsula stated that the pilot had been rescued from the sea, approximately 200 meters from the shore of Sevastopol.
"The pilot ejected. He was picked up by rescuers of the Sevastopol Rescue Service 200 meters from the shore. His life is not in danger," Razvozhaev wrote.
Ukrainian Armed Forces eliminate Russian aviation
Over the past two months, the Ukrainian military have destroyed a significant number of Russian aircraft. On February 17, three Russian aircraft were destroyed - two Su-34 fighter bombers and one Su-35 fighter jet, and on February 18, another Su-34 was "landed".
The next day, the Commander of the Air Force reported the destruction of two more Russian aircraft in the east. Another Su-34 was "landed" by the military on February 21.
Additionally, on February 23, a Russian A-50 aircraft was shot down over the Sea of Azov.
Two more Su-34s were shot down on February 27. And on February 29, Ukrainian forces destroyed a Su-34 on the Eastern front and another 2 Su-34s on the Avdiivka and Mariupol fronts.
Furthermore, on March 2, according to the General Staff, Ukrainian soldiers destroyed another Su-34.