The Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine announced that units of this special service shot down a Russian Su-30SM fighter jet over the Black Sea on Wednesday morning, the BBC informs.
The GUR statement said the plane was destroyed by a man-portable air defense system and a search and rescue operation for the crew began shortly after it disappeared from radar.
The Telegram channel Fighterbomber, which is close to Russian military circles, confirmed the downing but noted that the video released by Ukraine's General Intelligence Directorate did not show the strike. According to the authors of the channel, "there is currently no clarity on the causes of the accident" and "search for crew continues".
The Russian Ministry of Defense does not comment on the downed Su-30SM.