Three Russian Aircraft Lost Over Crimea in a Week

(KYIV, UKRAINE) – Ukraine has pointed to the reported loss of three Russian military aircraft over or near occupied Crimea in the space of a week as further evidence that Moscow’s forces are becoming increasingly vulnerable in Ukrainian territory.

The claim, amplified in Ukrainian commentary and discussed by Russian military bloggers, centres on the reported loss of a Su-30, a Su-34, and an An-26 aircraft. The most consequential incident, according to the account, involved the An-26, which was said to have been carrying senior Russian military personnel, including Lieutenant General Aleksandr Ocheretchenko.

While independent confirmation of all the details remains limited, the incidents have drawn renewed attention to the deteriorating security environment for Russian forces in occupied Crimea, where Ukraine has steadily expanded its strike reach against air assets, naval infrastructure and command nodes.