The Ukrainian navy has denied involvement in two recent incidents surrounding the crash of Russian An-26 and Su-30 aircraft in Crimea Peninsula.
In remarks published in local media on Saturday, Ukrainian Navy spokesperson Dmytro Pletenchuk claimed the crash of the Russian military aircraft in Crimea was likely linked to technical malfunction or the work of Russian defence systems. "We cannot confirm our involvement in the incident involving the specified aircraft An-26 carrying passengers, reportedly 29 people including crew members. Based on the information currently available, it was most likely an accident," the spokesperson said.
Pletenchuk explained that considering the active operation of Russian air defence and electronic warfare systems in Crimea, the possible interference from Russia’s own systems should not be ruled out, including GPS jamming or errors in air defence system.
He emphasized that Ukraine’s naval forces played no role in the Su-30 episode and said there was no confirmation that the jet had been downed by Ukrainian action.
In his view, the more plausible explanation is an internal failure connected to the aircraft’s operation, potentially caused by the harsh and demanding conditions in which it is currently deployed.
Pletenchuk added that the heavy tempo of Russian air activity over the Azov–Black Sea area is putting significant strain on both machinery and personnel. This sustained pressure can accelerate technical deterioration and exhaust flight crews, increasing the likelihood of accidents—particularly as the more active flying season gets underway.
He also pointed to recent incidents underscoring these risks: a Russian An-26 military transport plane went down over occupied Crimea on March 31, resulting in the deaths of six crew members and 23 passengers, and just days later, on April 3, a Russian Su-30 fighter crashed in the same region, though its crew managed to eject safely.
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