Published 31 August 2024 at 15.10
Foreign. According to information provided to the New York Times, the Ukrainian F-16 fighter jet that crashed recently may have been shot down by Ukraine's own defense forces using a Patriot air defense system.
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The paper cites a Western government source who says there are indications that the plane may have been hit by a missile from the Patriot system, but also does not rule out the possibility that the crash was caused by a technical fault or pilot error.
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The Ukrainian General Staff has previously confirmed that an F-16 plane was lost, but has not provided any details about the location of the incident.
Member of Parliament Maryana Bezuglaya claimed that the plane could have been shot down by a Patriot missile due to a mistake, and accused the Ukrainian leadership of trying to cover up the circumstances of the incident.
Ukraine's Air Force Chief Nikolay Oleschuk threatened the parliamentarian for her disclosure of this information.
The crash of the F-16 plane has raised concerns in Ukraine, especially given the recent deliveries of fighter jets from the West, which are considered crucial in the ongoing war against Russia.
The incident highlights, according to the New York Times, the the potential risks of the complex and rapid integration of new technologies, which Ukraine does not fully master, in an ongoing conflict situation.