Russian Su-35 shot down over Sevastopol in potential friendly fire: video

A Russian Su-35 fighter is believed to have been shot down over Sevastopol, plunging into the sea near the coast of Russian-occupied Crimea.  

A video that shows the burning fighter falling into a flat spin has been shared on social media. The exact reasons behind the destruction of the aircraft remain unclear, but it is suspected that the Russian air defense system may have been triggered, sealing the fate of the fighter jet. 

The Su-35, one of the latest iterations of the Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker series, is renowned for its advanced capabilities within the Russian aircraft fleet. Initially developed in the 1990s as an off-shoot of the Su-27M, the Su-35 boasts thrust-vectoring engine nozzles, a passive electronically scanned array (PESA) radar, upgraded electronic warfare and targeting systems, among other enhancements upon its predecessor. Having entered service in 2012, it was reported that 97 Su-35 fighters were operational as of 2022. 

Reports from the Oryx website, which meticulously documents visually confirmed losses, indicate that this incident marks one of the few Su-35 losses during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. According to their data, only seven Su-35s had been destroyed since the conflict began.