Ukraine said its military downed one of Russia’s most expensive fighter jets over Kursk more than a week after a surprise attack on the region.
“Defense forces of Ukraine destroyed the enemy Su-34. The sky over Kurshchyna became clearer,” Ukraine’s General Staff wrote in a Telegram post on Wednesday.
Video footage of what appears to be fire and debris from the downed jet is circulating on social media and was cited in a Newsweek story. Business Insider could not independently verify the video.
The Su-34, also known as the Fullback, is worth around $36 million, The Kyiv Post reported.
It is considered Russia’s most efficient fighter bomber. It has sensors, avionics, and smart weaponry that enable it to identify targets quickly, Forbes previously reported.
Ukraine has previously held long kill streaks with Russian Su-34s. In February, the Ukrainian military said it shot down four Su-34s in one week and a total of 10 Russian fighter jets in 10 days.
It comes as Ukraine’s push into Russian territory continues. As of Wednesday, 74 settlements are under Ukraine’s control, according to the military’s commander in chief Oleksandr Syrskyi.
The invasion began on August 6, prompting a state of emergency in the region.
The mission was kept secret — even from members of the Ukrainian military. The New York Times reported that a research institute affiliated with the military had analyzed the most successful operations in modern history and found those with the best outcomes were kept private.
Speaking to The Times, an unnamed Ukrainian deputy brigade said most senior officers were only given three days’ notice before the invasion took place, while soldiers in non-leadership roles were only given one day’s notice.
Representatives for Ukraine’s Armed Forces and Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
