As of: April 7, 2024, 10:31 a.m
By: Victoria Krumbeck
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Split
“Friendly fire” apparently broke out over Crimea. Tensions and pressure on the Russian soldiers could be the causes of the incident.
Sevastopol/London – It happened at the end of March: a Russian military plane was shot down by Russian soldiers. Shortly afterwards, the governor of Sevastopol spoke of a technical error. However, British intelligence suspects human error.
Russian soldiers under pressure: “Friendly fire” over Crimea?
On March 28, a Telegram channel reported on the shooting down of a Su-27 Russian air defense aircraft over Crimea. This was reportedly another flawed incident in which a soldier who was in the plane at the time of the downing survived. At that time, the Russian-appointed governor of Sevastopol, Mikhail Razvoshayev, spoke of a technical error.
A Russian Su-27 aircraft was apparently shot down by a Russian soldier. (Archive photo) © Funke Photo Services/IMAGO
Just days before the shoot-down, Ukraine attacked the Black Sea Fleet and targets in Sevastopol on March 24. In its daily Ukraine war update from April 6, British intelligence assumes that Russian air defenses were increased as a result of the attacks. The downing of the Su-27 could therefore be due to increasing pressure and tensions among Russian air defense operators, the intelligence agency added.
Russia may shoot down its own plane: “Lack of coordination”
The tense situation may have been caused by fear of further Ukrainian actions, which is why the plane and its pilot were accidentally shot down. “This and other events, if confirmed, likely highlight the lack of situational awareness and coordination between elements of the Russian armed forces while highlighting the secondary impact of Ukrainian actions,” the intelligence agency's analysis said.
Incidents in which Russia is said to shoot down its own planes are becoming known again and again. However, Moscow rarely confirms such breakdowns.
(vk)