On the morning of Saturday, June 7, 2025, the Ukrainian Air Force confirmed the downing of a Russian Su-35 fighter jet in the Kursk region, following a successful operation conducted near the Ukrainian border.
According to the Air Force Command, the aircraft was shot down about 15 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. Sources from the defense news outlet Militarnyi state that the jet crashed near the village of Yurasovo, in the Glushkovsky district.
Later, a drone-captured video was released by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, showing the wreckage of the Russian fighter jet on the ground. According to the Severny Kanal Telegram channel, the Su-35 was on a mission supporting Russian troops near the village of Tiotkine, reportedly under attack by Ukrainian forces.
This morning, June 7, 2025, as a result of a successful operation by the Air Force in the Kursk direction, a Russian Su-35 fighter jet was shot down! pic.twitter.com/uOYdUmuCpz
— VBR news / STD (@VerborumO) June 7, 2025
Analysts suggest the aircraft may have been brought down by a Ukrainian air defense system in an ambush near the border — a strategy increasingly employed to intercept Russian fighters operating at low altitudes close to Ukrainian territory in attempts to launch more accurate attacks.
Ukraine also possesses AIM-120C-8 air-to-air missiles, provided by Western allies, as a possible means used in the shootdown. The AIM-120C-8 is an advanced version of the American missile featuring active radar guidance, enhanced communications, and extended range — approximately 30% greater than earlier versions — capable of engaging airborne targets at distances of at least 20 km.
This incident highlights the growing risks faced by Russian aviation near the frontlines, where Ukraine’s increasingly effective air defense has posed a mounting challenge for Moscow.
Source and images: Militarnyi | Telegram @kpszsu | @uac_ru. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
