During an attempted air defense operation against Ukrainian drones over northwestern Crimea, russian forces accidentally shot down their own Su-30SM fighter, forcing the crew to eject. Ukrainian Naval Forces confirmed the incident based on radio intercepts showing both engines catching fire.
The information was confirmed by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Naval Forces.
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"The russian aircraft was on a mission in northwestern temporarily occupied Crimea. It apparently crashed for unknown reasons. It is likely that the enemy shot down their own multirole fighter while countering a UAV strike with air defense systems," the Naval Forces reported.
Earlier, spokesperson Dmytro Pletenchuk noted that another russian plane was lost over Crimea. "They were defending against Ukrainian attacks and ended up shooting down their own aircraft," he said.
Pletenchuk also reported that russian fuel supplies suffered another blow, as a fuel depot caught fire.
According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, on the night of October 17, Defense Forces units attacked an oil depot in the village of Hvardiiske. A fire broke out at the facility, and a direct hit on an RVS-2000 fuel tank was recorded. A successful strike was also carried out on the FDGU of the Hvardiysky combine in Kar'yerne, Saky district.
In addition, a fuel and lubricants depot of russian forces in Dzhankoi and a Nebo-U radar station in Yevpatoria were hit.
The results of the missions are being clarified.
"We hope our operations in Crimea continue at this pace," Pletenchuk added.
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