Ukraine Claims Downing of Russian Su-35 Fighter Jet in Kursk Region

The Ukrainian Air Force reported on Saturday morning that it successfully shot down a Russian Su-35 fighter jet during an aerial operation near Kursk Oblast, a border area in western Russia. While specific details about the operation were not provided, the military confirmed the occurrence via a statement on Telegram, according to a Reuters report.

The statement, released on the morning of June 7, stated that the Ukrainian Air Force had downed a Russian Su-35 fighter jet in a successful operation.

The Russian forces have yet to respond to the claims made by the Ukrainian Air Force, as noted in the Reuters report.
The Su-35, a fourth-generation multirole fighter jet, is considered one of Moscow’s most advanced aircraft.

This incident marks the latest escalation in the ongoing conflict along the Russia-Ukraine border.

It was reported that Ukraine previously initiated a cross-border incursion into Kursk Oblast in August 2024, which was the first significant movement of foreign forces into Russian territory since World War II, according to a Kyiv Independent report.

Russia regained control of much of the region with assistance from North Korean troops, including the town of Sudzah in March, where active military engagements have continued, the report noted.

Part of a larger pattern of aerial warfare

Russia has faced additional losses following Ukraine’s downing of the Su-35 jet. This incident occurred less than a week after Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) executed Operation Spiderweb, a widespread drone attack on several Russian air bases, the report added.

Reportedly, the assault, which took place on June 1, targeted airfields housing Tu-95 and Tu-22M3 strategic bombers, frequently employed by Moscow for long-range missile strikes against Ukrainian cities.

The Kyiv Independent report indicated that Ukraine has thus far launched 117 drones from mobile platforms deep within Russia, striking airbases in at least four regions and reportedly damaging or destroying over 40 military aircraft.

After the Su-35 was downed, Ukraine’s General Staff announced that a total of 414 Russian planes have been destroyed since the onset of the full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Ukrainian military leaders view these achievements as crucial in their efforts to diminish Russia’s air superiority and limit long-range strikes on civilian areas, the reports stated.