The Ukrainian Defense Intelligence reports that Su-27UB combat training jet caught fire overnight on 26 July in Russia. The incident happened at the Armavir airfield in Russia’s Krasnodar Krai, which lies more than 850 km from the Ukrainian border.
Russia does not intend to end its war against Ukraine. On the contrary, Russian ruler Vladimir Putin has told US President Donald Trump that military actions will escalate during the summer offensive. In the first half of 2025, Russia killed or injured 6,754 civilians in Ukraine, the highest number for a six-month period since 2022.
The training range on fire
The aircraft was a Su-27UB, a twin-seat training version of the Soviet multirole Su-27 fighter. It is intended for training cadets while retaining the combat capabilities of the base aircraft: speeds of up to 2,500 km/h.
The fighter jet can to carry both unguided FAB-250/500 bombs and guided bombs such as the KAB-500-OD and KAB-1500KR. On the front lines, such aircraft are also used for patrols, air cover, and precision strikes on Ukraine.
Industry geared for war
Moscow plans to increase the production of guided aerial bombs by 50%, to 75,000 units in 2025, by upgrading conventional munitions with planning and correction modules. The installation of the modules turns them into high-precision weapons with extended strike range.
Currently, Ukraine does not have a solution against such missiles. The most effective remains the destruction of fighter jects at airfields.
Sabotage or precision strike?
Following the explosion, local residents reported a loss of communication, which may indicate attempts to conceal the scale of the incident. Ukraine's Defense Intelligence reminds: “Every crime against the Ukrainian people will be properly avenged."
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