The Ukrainian Air Force reported that a Russian Su-35 multirole fighter was shot down this Wednesday, July 8, in the eastern direction of the front line. The information was released by RBC-Ukraine based on a statement published by the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Telegram.
According to the statement, the aircraft hit was a Su-35, a 4++ generation fighter used by Russia in air superiority, escort and strike missions against targets on land and at sea. So far, no details have been released about the circumstances of the action, the system used, the exact location of the incident or the pilot’s condition.
The Su-35 is a deep evolution of the Su-27 family and is among the main high-performance fighters in service with Russian military aviation. The aircraft is equipped with thrust-vectoring engines, a feature that expands its maneuverability in aerial combat, as well as radar systems and avionics designed for long-range missions.
According to open-source data, the model can reach speeds close to Mach 2.25, about 2,400 km/h, and operate with a wide range of weapons, including air-to-air missiles, air-to-surface missiles and guided bombs.
Since the beginning of the full-scale war against Ukraine, Russia has used the Su-35 in different mission profiles. In addition to providing air cover for other aircraft, the fighter is also used in guided-weapons launch operations, especially in areas near the line of contact.
The possible loss of a Su-35 is militarily significant because it is a high-value, complex platform with limited replacement capacity. Although Moscow rarely confirms this type of loss, previous records indicate that aircraft of the same model have already been lost during the conflict, including a case reported in the Kursk region in June last year.
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Without new official information, the incident still depends on updates regarding the operational details. The initial confirmation, however, reinforces the growing role of Ukrainian air defense in trying to limit the activity of Russian aircraft in attack and support missions on the eastern front.
⚡️ CONFIRMED!
On July 8, 2026, a Russian Su-35 multi-role fighter was shot down on the eastern sector!🇺🇦 Glory to Ukraine!
✊ Together to victory! pic.twitter.com/r8S9fgQaC5— Ukrainian Air Force (@KpsZSU) July 8, 2026
Source: RBC-Ukraine | Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine | Photos: Telegram @uac_ru. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
