Pletenchuk: Russians shot down their own plane over Crimea during air defence operations

Russian air defence fires on its own aircraft

On Friday night, over the territory of the temporarily occupied Crimea Russian troops shoot down their own aircraft during the operation of air defence systems. This was reported by the spokesman for the Ukrainian Navy Dmytro Pletenchuk.

«Indeed, there is information about the downing of a Russian aircraft by Ukraine's own air defence forces. It is now being investigated what type of aircraft was downed. The information is being clarified», Pletenchuk said.

Drone attack and chaos in the skies over Crimea

According to preliminary data, during the of a massive attack by Ukrainian drones Russian air defence opened chaotic fire in an attempt to repel the attacks. As a result. one of the missiles of the air defence system hit its own aircraft, which was flying over the central part of the peninsula.

Russian Telegram channels report on Explosion and fall of debris in the steppe zone, However, official sources from the occupiers have not yet commented on the incident.

Similar cases have already happened

This is not the first time that Russian military shoots down its own equipment. Earlier, similar incidents were recorded during massive drone attacks in the Bryansk, Kursk and Belgorod regions.

Ukrainian experts note that such situations indicate low level of coordination between the russian air defence forces and panic in the defence management system.