Russian Soldier's Mishap Highlights Ongoing Military Losses in Ukraine War
A recent incident involving a Russian soldier crashing a truck into one of Russia's prized Su-25 fighter jets underscores the numerous military losses suffered by the Russian Air Force during the ongoing war in Ukraine. This event, which resulted in the damage of a jet that symbolizes the might of President Vladimir Putin's military, further adds to the ever-growing list of aircraft losses since the conflict began in February 2022.
As of April 2024, General Christopher Cavoli, head of US European Command, reported to US lawmakers that Russia has lost approximately 10% of its aircraft fleet since launching a large-scale invasion of Ukraine. A major contributing factor to these losses has been friendly fire incidents, as well as effective actions by Ukrainian forces who have actively targeted and downed Russian military aircraft.
The specific accident occurred in Simferopol, located in the illegally annexed Crimea, when a soldier from Chelyabinsk, lacking a driver's license, attempted to maneuver a military truck between two parking areas designated for Russian aircraft. Reports from Telegram channels, including Crimean Wind and VChKOGPU, indicate that the soldier was speeding when he collided with the Su-25, leading to damages estimated at approximately 3.868 million rubles (almost 4 million euros).
In response to this reckless act, the soldier has received a sentence of one year of conditional imprisonment, coupled with an 18-month probation period. Speculation has arisen about the possibility of deliberate malice, with some Ukrainian channels suggesting the possibility of an internal sabotage, although no credible evidence has been provided to support this claim.
This incident comes shortly after reports emerged of Ukrainian drone strikes aimed at critical Russian military infrastructure, including the Smolensk aviation plant known for producing the Su-25 jets and missiles. Ukraine continues its strategic efforts to target facilities crucial to Russia's military operations, which includes airfields, ammunition depots, and refineries.
According to Oryx, a Dutch open-source defense intelligence analysis website, 235 Russian aircraft have been visually confirmed as destroyed, with an additional 46 reported as damaged since the conflict's onset. In contrast, Ukraine has lost 97 aircraft, including four damaged and one captured.
As the war enters its fourth year, both Russia and Ukraine are poised to continue experiencing heavy losses, both in personnel and equipment. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has expressed a commitment to ending the conflict and facilitating peace talks, raising hopes for a potential resolution to the ongoing crisis.
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