A Russian military pilot died after his Su-25 fighter jet crashed in the Sea of Azov on the country's southern coast near Ukraine, an official said on Monday.
"I express my condolences to the relatives of the victim who died when his Su-25 attack aircraft crashed during a training flight," Roman Bublik, the head of the Yeisk district of the southern Krasnodar region, said on social media.
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The fighter jet crashed not far from the seashore and there were no other victims, regional officials said.
Russian media report that a Russian Su-25 aircraft crashed into the water near Yeysk, Krasnodar region.
— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) July 17, 2023
The pilot catapulted, it is unclear whether he survived. pic.twitter.com/P5Q2BDBbL0
Videos on social media showed the aircraft falling into the sea not far from a crowded beach.
Russian media reporting that the pilot of the Sukhoi SU-25 that crashed near Yeysk, Krasnodar Krai, has died.
— Jimmy Rushton (@JimmySecUK) July 17, 2023
No doubt the increased strain the war has been putting on the RuAF is responsible for the increased rate of non-combat losses seen recently.pic.twitter.com/aKBmfbE027
The pilot died after he ejected from the fighter jet and was picked up by rescue teams, officials added.
The defence ministry did not immediately say what caused the crash.
Accidents involving Russian military aircraft have increased since President Vladimir Putin sent troops to Ukraine in February 2022.
The Sea of Azov is situated off the southern shores of Russia and Ukraine.
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