Second Russian Su-34 fighter-bomber downed by Ukrainian F-16, sources claim

Russian milbloggers report a mysterious aircraft downing, speculating Ukrainian F-16 involvement—potentially the second such incident since 12 October.

Nov 3, 2024 - 21:00
Second Russian Su-34 fighter-bomber downed by Ukrainian F-16, sources claim

second russian su-34 fighter-bomber downed ukrainian f-16 sources claim russia's aircraft wikipedia commons/vitaly v kuzmin 1108px-maks2015

A Russian Su-34 fighter-bomber has been downed under mysterious circumstances in the early hours of 1 November, Defence Blog and Militarnyi reported, citing Russian military bloggers, marking the second such loss in recent weeks.

Neither Russian nor Ukrainian authorities have officially confirmed or denied the circumstances of the incident, but some unofficial Russian sources attribute the downing to an engagement with a Ukrainian F-16. Russian Sukhoi Su-34 Fullbacks serve as key tactical bombers, targeting Ukrainian positions on the front and border areas. These aircraft frequently suffer losses due to Ukrainian air defenses, technical issues, and crew errors.

Russian military bloggers linked to military aviation have acknowledged the incident, with the crew reportedly not surviving the crash. The incident follows a similar loss on 12 October, when a Russian Su-34 was allegedly shot down by the Ukrainian Air Force’s F-16.

Militarnyi notes that if the Su-34 photo shared by Russian aviation-linked milblogger Ilya Tumanov is authentic, it depicts a black-painted aircraft previously based in Voronezh and Morozovsk, Rostov Oblast.

According to Militarnyi, Russian milblogger “Dva Mayora” claims that a Ukrainian Patriot air defense system allegedly engaged aerial targets over Russia’s Belgorod Oblast the previous evening. However, it remains unclear if this incident is linked to the loss of the Russian Su-34 fighter-bomber.

Related:

You could close this page. Or you could join our community and help us produce more materials like this. 

We keep our reporting open and accessible to everyone because we believe in the power of free information. This is why our small, cost-effective team depends on the support of readers like you to bring deliver timely news, quality analysis, and on-the-ground reports about Russia's war against Ukraine and Ukraine's struggle to build a democratic society.

A little bit goes a long way: for as little as the cost of one cup of coffee a month, you can help build bridges between Ukraine and the rest of the world, plus become a co-creator and vote for topics we should cover next. Become a patron or see other ways to support.

Become a Patron!