Overview
- A Su-30 fighter on a scheduled training flight in Crimea crashed Friday, and both crew ejected and were rescued with no threat to their lives.
- The Defense Ministry said the jet was not carrying weapons and gave no cause or details on the wreckage or any inquiry.
- The crash followed an An-26 transport disaster on March 31 near Sevastopol that killed dozens, with state media pointing to a likely technical malfunction.
- Ukraine’s Navy said it had no role in either incident and suggested accidents linked to intense use or interference from Russian air defenses and GPS jamming.
- Open-source analysts estimate Russia has lost at least 18 Su-30SM jets since 2022, a trend that could strain readiness as Crimea remains a key air and logistics hub.