Ukrainian forces shot down a Russian Su-25 close air support aircraft over the Toretsk sector in the Donetsk region on February 8, according to a statement by the press service of the 28th Separate Mechanized Brigade.
The downing of the aircraft marks another loss for Russia’s air assets as intense battles continue in eastern Ukraine.
“The warriors of the 28th Brigade destroyed an enemy Su-25! One less Russian attack aircraft in the Toretsk sector, thanks to our air defense forces,” the brigade’s statement read.
The aircraft was reportedly hit by a man-portable air-defense system (MANPADS) of the Igla type. The successful engagement was executed by a combined air defense unit consisting of personnel from the 28th SMB and the 57th Separate Battalion of Territorial Defense Forces. The strike led to the aircraft crashing in an area near Toretsk, an industrial town in the Donetsk region that has seen heavy fighting throughout the war.
Following the downing of the Su-25, a Russian Mi-8 helicopter attempted to retrieve the pilot. However, Ukrainian first-person view (FPV) drone operators prevented the rescue operation, forcing the helicopter to return to its base with damage. “As a result, the helicopter, limping back, requires significant repairs. The Su-25 pilot was left abandoned,” the brigade reported.
The Su-25, a Soviet-era ground-attack aircraft known for its durability and close air support role, has been heavily used by the Russian military throughout the conflict. However, Ukrainian forces have consistently targeted them with MANPADS, inflicting growing losses on Russia’s air fleet.
According to open-source intelligence groups, Ukrainian air defense units have downed 33 Su-25s since the full-scale invasion began.
The flight path suddenly changes and the plane plummets down towards the ground.
The aircraft is engulfed by an enormous fireball that ripples through the air, and thick black smoke billows hundreds of metres up.
The pilot ejected and is “alive and safe”, according to reports.
The plane was hit by a shoulder-fired RBS-70 surface-to-air missile, close to a major battle scene in Toretsk, the Ukrainians confirmed.
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