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

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.

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:

• Norway’s € 500 million military aid package to Ukraine to include NASAMS, not only F-16s
• Russian source claims Ukrainian F-16’s first shootdown of Russian manned aircraft, Su-34 bomber
• UK completes basic training for 200 Ukrainian future F-16 pilots
• Ukraine targets Russia’s guided bomb warehouses and aircraft in Voronezh Oblast airfield attack
• WSJ: Ukraine’s F-16 squadron faces extended timeline as US trains younger pilots
• Ukraine’s defense forces destroy Russian Su-34 in Kursk Oblast
• Ukraine receives initial batch of Dutch F-16s, more to follow in coming months
• Ukraine destroys Russian Su-34 bomber in deep-strike drone attack