Frontline report: Ukraine’s MANPADS takes down Russian fighter jet

There are a lot of updates from occupied Crimea, where Russian forces renewed their efforts to undermine the Ukrainian grain corridor in the western Black Sea. Taking advantage of their positions on drilling rigs, they attacked a civilian cargo ship. Ukrainian commanders, recognizing the importance of this move, decided to remove this danger by conducting an extensive amphibious operation to storm the Russian sea strongholds.

A series of successful strikes against the Russian Black Sea fleet has allowed Ukraine to secure the vital grain corridor through the Black Sea, crucial for economic recovery and global markets, particularly for countries in Africa and the Middle East. Despite this, Russian forces have targeted Ukrainian port and grain infrastructure in Odesa Oblast to disrupt exports. Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal noted that 66 million tons of cargo have been shipped in 2024, nearing pre-invasion levels.

To disrupt this, Russian forces struck a civilian cargo ship transiting through the corridor in the western Black Sea, likely in a new attempt to undermine international confidence in its safety. Ukrainian officials reported that a cruise missile strike was conducted by the Russians against a civilian cargo ship under the flag of a third country, transporting wheat to Egypt, exactly when leaving Ukrainian territorial waters. The Romanian Coast Guard later reported that the Russian missile struck the ship while in Romania’s maritime economic zone, showcasing the provocative nature of this act.

Ukraine’s bold sea raid

Understanding the strategic significance of the grain corridor, Ukraine launched one of its largest amphibious operations, aiming to neutralize oil rig platforms that Russia had seized in 2014.

Ukrainian Naval forces, alongside elements of the Main Military Intelligence directorate, executed a bold assault on the Crimean drilling rig, utilizing 14 Willard Sea Force inflatable speed boats. The operation’s detailed footage later released reveals the boats advancing rapidly toward the platform. Just before reaching their target, Ukrainian forces deployed a swarm of drones to strike enemy positions, effectively suppressing the Russian forces’ ability to retaliate.

The footage further shows the boats closing in and unleashing a barrage from M2 Browning 12.7 mm machine guns, followed by a series of powerful explosions on the platform. The Ukrainian forces then engaged in an intense firefight with the remaining Russian troops, demonstrating both tactical precision and overwhelming firepower in their assault.

The Russian forces reacted swiftly to the surprise attack by dispatching several fighter jets, including Su-30 and Su-35, to intercept the Ukrainian boats. During this engagement, one of the Su-30 aircraft abruptly disappeared from radar. 

From mystery to clarity

Search and rescue operations were promptly initiated to locate the missing jet. Initially, the cause of the incident remained unclear, sparking various speculations in the Russian media. Some suggested the jet might have been downed by an F-16, while others considered the possibility of a technical malfunction or self-destruction. However, Russian military bloggers soon reported that the aircraft was shot down by Ukrainian forces using a man-portable air defense system.

The Ukrainian intelligence quickly confirmed the event by releasing footage of the operation. The video first shows the oil rig platform with the Russian jet flying at low altitude, attempting to engage the Ukrainian forces at sea. It then captures a boat maneuvering into position, followed by the launch of an air defense missile. 

The missile’s trajectory is clearly visible as it streaks across the sky towards the Russian aircraft. Moments later, the video shows the missile striking the Su-30, resulting in a large explosion. The jet is seen breaking apart mid-air, with debris falling towards the sea.

This precise and well-executed hit not only shielded the Ukrainian assault group from a serious aerial threat but also dealt a significant blow to the Russian forces, resulting in the loss of an aircraft valued at approximately $50 million USD.

In our regular frontline report, we pair up with the military blogger Reporting from Ukraine to keep you informed about what is happening on the battlefield in the Russo-Ukrainian war.