**Russian Fighter Jet Crashes During Training Exercise**
A Russian Air Force Su-34 fighter jet crashed on July 1 in Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, Russia. According to reports from Russian state media Ria Novosti, the plane experienced a malfunction during landing when one of its landing gear struts was not released.
The crew attempted to fix the issue while still in flight, but their efforts were unsuccessful. Fortunately, both pilots successfully ejected from the aircraft, and there were no casualties reported.
This incident comes amidst a surge in plane and helicopter crashes in Russia since the start of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. According to UK intelligence, Russia has lost over 30 Su-34 aircraft since 2022.
**Russia’s Shadow Fleet**
The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed that the crew ejected safely from the plane, but the incident raises questions about the overall state of Russia’s military equipment and training procedures. The Su-34 is a Soviet-era medium-range fighter-bomber, and its crash highlights potential vulnerabilities in Russia’s air force.
Moreover, according to Ukraine’s military intelligence (HUR), the vessel belongs to Russia’s shadow fleet, used by Moscow to evade sanctions. This suggests that even as Russia tries to maintain secrecy about its losses in Ukraine, these crashes may be more common than initially reported.
**Ukraine Receives $500 Million from IMF**
In a separate development, Ukraine received approximately $500 million from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on July 1. This marks the ninth tranche under Ukraine’s Extended Fund Facility program, which aims to support the country’s economic recovery and stability.
This funding is crucial for Ukraine as it faces ongoing military conflicts with Russia and tries to rebuild its economy.
**Russia Continues Aggressive Actions**
Meanwhile, Russia continues to show aggression in Ukraine. According to reports from Ukrainian air defenses, Russian forces launched 47 Shahed-type attack drones and decoys against the country overnight on July 1. While Ukrainian air defenses shot down 14 drones, 33 were intercepted by electronic warfare or disappeared from radars.
Additionally, a Russian logistics hub in occupied Luhansk Oblast is reported to be on fire due to a drone attack.
**Ukraine Calls for International Support**
In light of these incidents and ongoing aggression, Ukraine continues to call for international support. The country has previously requested the dismantling of Iran’s nuclear program to prevent it from threatening the Middle East or the wider world.
As Ukraine faces significant challenges in its conflict with Russia, international support remains crucial for the country’s economic recovery and military efforts.
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