A Russian military plane crashed into the sea near occupied Crimea, the head of Russia’s installation in Sevastopol, Mikhail Razvozhayev, said on March 28, according to the Kyiv Independent publication.
Razvozhayev claimed that the pilot ejected in time and was picked up by rescuers from the Sevastopol Rescue Service about 200 meters from shore.
“A military plane crashed into the sea (…) The pilot catapulted. He was recovered by rescuers from Sevastopol at a distance of 200 meters from the shore. His life is not in danger,” Razvojaev wrote on Telegram.
Earlier, Russian Telegram channels reported that a Russian Su-35 fighter jet crashed near Sevastopol. For the moment, it is not known what exactly caused the incident.
The plane was reportedly shot down by Russian air defenses
According to claims shared on Crimean Wind’s Telegram channel, the plane was accidentally shot down by Russian forces. The channel claimed that the plane was shot down over Sevastopol after taking off from the Belbek military airfield.
Although the exact model of the plane is not clear, images shared on Telegram channels show what appears to be a fighter jet. Some channels have identified the plane as an Su-35 or Su-27.
Ukrainian officials have not commented on the claims, which cannot be independently verified.
Russia’s air force suffered particularly heavy losses in late February and March, losing more than a dozen fighter jets, including Su-34 fighter-bombers, Su-35 fighter jets and a rare military spy plane A- 50.
