On March 28, 2024, a Crimean Telegram channel reported that a SU-27 aircraft operating over Crimea had been shot down by russian air defense in an incident of friendly fire. The russian-installed Governor of Sevastopol, Mikhail Razvozhaev, stated that there was a technical failure and that the pilot survived, according to the UK Defense Intelligence.
Ukraine had conducted strikes against targets in Sevastopol and the Black Sea Fleet on March 24, 2024. This almost certainly led to local russian air defense being at a heightened readiness. There have been previous unconfirmed reports of similar instances of friendly fire occurring, usually following periods of Ukrainian action against russian forces in the temporarily occupied territory. There is a realistic possibility that rather than a technical issue, the increased pressure and tension amongst russian air defense operators induced by the fear of further Ukrainian action leads to them inadvertently engaging their own pilots and aircraft.
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This event, and others if confirmed, likely highlights the lack of situational awareness and coordination between elements of the russian armed forces, while further demonstrating the second-order impact of Ukrainian actions.
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