The Ukrainian Naval Forces have stated they are not involved in the recent incidents involving Russian aircraft in Crimea, suggesting that the incidents may have resulted from technical failures or issues with Russian systems.
According to spokesperson Dmytro Pletenchuk, the Ukrainian Navy cannot confirm any connection to the crash of a Russian An-26 military transport aircraft, which reportedly had 29 people on board, including crew members. He indicated that preliminary information points to the possibility of an accident.
Pletenchuk elaborated that the active deployment of Russian air defense and electronic warfare systems in Crimea raises the likelihood of interference from the Russian side, including potential GPS jamming or errors in air defense operations during combat activities.
“I believe that over time, the amount of information will certainly increase, but such information gathered in temporarily occupied Crimea typically requires extensive verification due to the hostile environment,” Pletenchuk explained.
Furthermore, he stated that the Ukrainian Navy is not connected to the incident involving a Russian Su-30 fighter jet and cannot confirm reports of its being shot down. He suggested that the incident was likely another accident related to the aircraft’s operational conditions.
Pletenchuk noted that the intensive use of Russian aviation in the Azov-Black Sea region affects the wear and tear on equipment and the fatigue of crews, which can lead to such incidents, especially with the onset of the active flying season.
Prior to these statements, on April 1, it was reported that a Russian An-26 aircraft crashed in occupied Crimea, resulting in the deaths of all 29 individuals on board, including Russian General Oleksandr Otroshchenko. On April 3, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that a Su-30 fighter jet had also crashed in the region, with the crew reportedly ejecting safely.
The Ukrainian Naval Forces have denied any involvement in recent incidents involving Russian aircraft in Crimea, attributing the crashes to possible technical failures. The spokesperson highlighted the challenges in verifying information from the occupied region.
Source: Укрінформ