Su-27 Crash at Lvov Air Show Is Post-Soviet Ukraine's Worst Tragedy

Final figures released indicate that 83 people died and 199 were injured as a result of a disaster at the Sknilov aerodrome near Lvov, in which an Ukrainian Air Force Su-27 taking part in an air show crashed into the crowd. The tragedy occurred on Saturday at 12:45 local time, when the plane, which was performing an advanced manoeuvre, suddenly began to lose height and plunged into spectators. Both pilots managed to eject.

The catastrophe in Sknilov is the worst in post-Soviet Ukraine's short history. The press service of the Ukrainian Ministry of Emergency Situations announced that 18 bodies remain unidentified due the seriousness of the injuries they received. Criminal proceedings have been launched against the pilots of the Su-27. Ukrainian Defence Minister Vladimir Shkidchenko immediately tendered his resignation to President Leonid Kuchma after the disaster. A day of mourning has been declared in Ukraine today. The presidents of Russia, France, Georgia and Moldavia, as well as the German Chancellor and the Council of Europe have offered their condolences.

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