Another Russian combat plane has crashed

The incident reportedly occurred on April 3 at around 11:00 a.m. The aircraft was conducting a training flight over the occupied Crimean Peninsula without any ammunition on board. According to the statement, the crew managed to eject and survived. After landing, they were located by a ground search and rescue team.

This is at least the 19th Su-30 lost by Russia due to accidents or combat operations since the start of its aggression against Ukraine. In addition, at least four aircraft have been withdrawn from service due to wear and tear. During the same period, Russia has introduced 12 new aircraft of this type into service, meaning that despite continued investment, its fleet has shrunk by approximately 10 percent.

It remains unclear whether the cause was a technical malfunction or friendly fire from Russian air defences. Just a few days earlier, a Russian Su-34 frontline bomber crashed during takeoff due to a technical failure.

The Su-30 is the sixth Russian aircraft lost this year. In addition, three Su-34 bombers and two light transport aircraft—an An-26 and an An-72—have been lost. Five helicopters have also been destroyed. A significant portion of these losses resulted from accidents and technical malfunctions, which may indicate the ongoing deterioration of Russia’s aircraft fleet.