A Russian Su-35 fighter jet went down in the sea near occupied Crimea, the Kiev Independent reports.
Moscow-appointed Crimean Governor Mikhail Razvozhayev says the pilot ejected in time and was picked up by rescuers from the Sevastopol rescue service about 200 meters from shore.
Earlier, on 28 March, Russian Telegram channels shared alleged footage of the burning and falling plane over the occupied peninsula and the parachute of the ejected pilot.
According to claims shared on the Crimean Wind channel, the plane was shot down accidentally by Russia's own forces. The channel claims the plane was shot down over Sevastopol after taking off from the Belbek military airport.
The Russian air force suffered particularly heavy losses in late February and March, losing more than a dozen warplanes, including Su-34 fighter-bombers, Su-35 fighter jets and a rare A-50 military spy plane./BGNES
