Video shows Russian fighter jet crashing immediately after sharp turn in take-off, Ukraine says

• Ukraine's Ministry of Defence posted a video of what they say is a Russian fighter jet crashing.
• The video appears to show an Su-25 jet crashing immediately after taking off alongside another jet.

A video posted online in recent days shows what appeared to be a Russian fighter jet crashing immediately after taking a sharp turn during take-off.

The clip, said to have been recorded in occupied Crimea, was posted online on Monday by pro-Ukraine accounts.

Since then it was reposted by Ukrainian government accounts, including its ministry of defense on Tuesday.

"Sunday morning in Crimea. Another Su-25 is down. Incompetence at all levels," the ministry said alongside the 40-second clip.

It showed two Russian fighter jets taking off side-by-side. Shortly after taking off, both jets bank left. One appeared to lose power and fell to the ground, causing an explosion.

Crimea, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014, has for much of the recent invasion been too far from the front lines to see any ground fighting, but was used as a staging area for Russian troops.

However, in August Ukraine pulled off a daring strike on a Crimean airbase that dealt a heavy psychological blow to Russia, demonstrating that the territory was not safe.

Insider was unable to independently verify the video and when exactly it was taken. Insider could not find any record of the footage dated before Monday, suggesting that it is indeed recent.

The earliest post Insider found was from the official Telegram account of a Ukrainian political party, Third Ukrainian Republic.

Expert analysts, including Rob Lee, posted and discussed the footage, suggesting it was legitimate.

Anton Gerashchenko, a Ukrainian government advisor, reshared the clip on Monday, writing: "Aerobatics of [a] Russian Su-25 plane on one of the airfields in occupied Crimea ... If that's Russian spirit, it looked low."

The Su-25 is a Soviet-made tank-busting aircraft that has been used by both Russia and Ukraine in the conflict. Russia's invasion of Ukraine on February 24 led to some of the most sustained air-to-air combat in decades.

Neither side has been willing to go deep into enemy airspace, so Ukrainian and Russian fighters prefer to use long-range missiles and attack at low altitudes near the frontline, Insider reported previously.

At least 49 Russian and 37 Ukrainian warplanes were confirmed lost as of August 30, Insider reported, though the true numbers are likely higher.

The video came amid reports that Russian troops have been forced to retreat from the eastern region of Kharkiv after Ukraine launched a swift counteroffensive in the last week.