Two Russian Su-35S fighter jets collided in the Kursk region, according to the pro-war aviation Telegram channel Fighterbomber and the outlet Pepeł. Kursk.
One pilot managed to eject and was injured, Pepeł reported. Fighterbomber, citing preliminary data, said one pilot was killed. Military correspondent Yuri Kotenok confirmed the collision, noting that the exact circumstances of the incident were not yet known.
Another pro-war channel, Voevoda Veshchayet, indirectly blamed Ukraine for the incident, writing that Ukrainians "will answer for this." The Ukrainian side has not confirmed any involvement. The Russian Defense Ministry had not issued an official comment at the time of publication.
The Su-35S is a Russian 4++ generation multirole fighter equipped with the Irbis radar and capable of carrying long-range R-37M air-to-air missiles.
In early September, Ukrainian forces destroyed a MiG-29 fighter near the Millerovo airfield and a Ka-27 helicopter near the Yeysk airfield. Earlier, the Ukrainian Unmanned Systems Forces attacked the Shagol airfield in the Chelyabinsk region, striking four aircraft.