In a shocking incident over Ukraine’s Donetsk region, a Russian Air Force Su-25 attack aircraft was accidentally shot down by its own wingman during a combat mission. The incident highlights the growing problem of friendly fire within Russian military operations in the ongoing war in Ukraine.
According to reports from Russian aviation blogger Ilya Tumanov, who runs the popular Fighterbomber Telegram channel, the incident took place during a sortie in the Vuhledar–Avdiivka area. Two Su-25 attack aircraft had taken off from the Taganrog-Central air base and were carrying out a mission when tragedy struck.
During the operation, one of the pilots mistakenly fired a salvo of unguided rockets that hit his wingman’s aircraft. A video later shared online captured the moment of the crash. Thankfully, the pilot managed to eject and survived the crash, though he sustained a broken arm and was immediately hospitalized.
Tumanov confirmed that an official investigation is underway to determine the exact circumstances and assign responsibility for the mishap. He stated, “The causes of the Su-25 crash can be considered established.”
The incident was also verified by Ukrainian open-source intelligence analyst AviVector, who confirmed the crash and added that the aircraft was operating in the heavily contested Donetsk sector when it went down.
This is not an isolated case. Russian forces have suffered several friendly fire incidents since the beginning of the Ukraine conflict. Last year, a Russian Mi-8MTV-5 helicopter was shot down by its own side, killing the entire crew. In another case, a Russian Navy tugboat and a barge came under attack in the Sea of Azov, with authorities not ruling out the possibility of a strike from their own military.
Even within Russian military circles, there’s acknowledgment that such mistakes are becoming frequent. Yurii Ihnat, spokesperson for the Ukrainian Air Force, has commented that poor coordination and communication among Russian units often lead to these avoidable accidents.
This latest incident reflects the operational challenges the Russian military continues to face — from technological limitations to coordination lapses — further complicating their campaign in Ukraine.
——— End of Article ———
