In March 2024,a Russian SU-35 Flanker fighter jet has crashed into the sea off Sevastopol, Crimea, a territory annexed by Russia from Ukraine in 2014. The accident comes amidst escalating military tensions in the region, as the conflict between Russia and Ukraine intensifies. The crash was confirmed by Mikhail Razvozhayev, the Russian-installed governor of the illegally occupied region, who reported that the pilot ejected and was picked up by rescuers and that civilian objects were not damaged in the incident.
The event has stirred speculation and competing narratives, with Maria Avdeeva, a Ukrainian security expert, claiming that the aircraft had been shot down. Pro-Ukraine Telegram channels suggested friendly fire as a potential cause, although these assertions remain unconfirmed, with Ukrainian officials refraining from commenting on the incident. Razvozhayev wroted that “He was picked up by rescuers from the Sevastopol Rescue Service at a distance of two hundred meters from the shore. His life is not in danger.”
Concurrent with these military developments, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has been proactive in securing international support. In discussions with US House Speaker Mike Johnson, Zelenskiy stressed the importance of unity in aiding Ukraine and underscored the increased intensity of Russian attacks. He highlighted the need for more advanced defensive systems, such as American Patriot missile defence systems, to bolster Ukraine’s ability to withstand potential further offensives.
Amid these urgent calls for aid, the United States has taken measures to curtail Russia’s war efforts by instructing American companies to cease shipments of components that could be repurposed for Russian military technology. This follows discoveries of such parts in Russian munitions used in Ukraine. According to Matthew Axelrod, assistant secretary at the commerce department, the U.S. has sent letters to more than 20 American companies, targeting over 600 foreign parties in an effort to cut off potential supply lines to Russia.
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