On Wednesday, July 8, 2026, the press service of the Ukrainian Air Force Command said on social media that a Russian combat aircraft had been shot down. According to reports, it was a Su-35S multirole fighter, known in NATO reporting as Flanker-E.
Su-35S / Photo: UAK
„Good news from the Air Force! Today, another Russian aerial terrorist has been eliminated! Glory to Ukraine! More soon!” the service said on Telegram.
The shootdown was also confirmed by the well-informed Soniasznyk channel (’sunflower’ in Ukrainian), which is closely associated with Ukrainian military aviators and has previously published footage and details of Ukrainian air operations before they were confirmed by official sources. The channel said the Russian aircraft had been shot down in combat. “Today, a very experienced enemy pilot, who had caused us serious problems in this direction, was shot down in combat. We thank everyone involved; you are simply the brightest minds. We are waiting for more new ideas and results,” it said, although it did not specify who the experienced pilot was.
Russian military blogger Alexey Zemtsov, known on Telegram as Voevoda Veshchayet, also confirmed that a Su-35S had been shot down and that the pilot managed to eject safely. “The pilot has been picked up, he is alive and already resting. Soon he will receive a new Su-35 and will continue to beat you,” he wrote. His account was also confirmed by other well-known aviation-focused military bloggers.
It remains unconfirmed, however, how the aircraft was actually shot down. Unverified reports circulating on social media suggested that a Ukrainian F-16AM/BM multirole fighter may have been responsible, but neither side has confirmed this so far.
Another Su-35S was reportedly shot down in this way over Kursk Oblast on June 7, 2025. This was later confirmed by drone footage showing the wreckage of the crashed aircraft near the village of Yurasovo. According to the German daily Bild, citing Ukrainian sources, the aircraft was to have been destroyed by an AIM-120 AMRAAM (Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile) radar-guided medium-range air-to-air missile fired by an F-16, with targeting data provided by an ex-Swedish S 100D Argus airborne early warning aircraft. The aircraft was unofficially first spotted over Ukraine on April 21, 2025, although the first visual evidence appeared only on March 20 this year.
If the aircraft type is confirmed, this would be the 14th Su-35S lost by Russia since the start of the full-scale war against Ukraine on February 24, 2022. Meanwhile, Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) continues to deliver new aircraft to the Aerospace Forces (VKS) in small batches, with the latest deliveries this year taking place on May 26 and April 17.
Compared with its predecessor, the Su-27P/S, the Su-35S/SE multirole fighter features enlarged wings, tail surfaces, and air intakes, as well as a reduced radar cross-section (RCS). It is powered by two Saturn/Lyulka AL-37F (117S) bypass turbofan engines with independent thrust-vectoring nozzles and an extended service life. The N035 Irbis-E radar, fitted with a passive electronically scanned array (PESA) antenna, can track 30 airborne targets and engage eight simultaneously, or track up to four ground targets without interrupting airspace scanning.
🔥 Great news from the Air Force!
Today we took down yet another ✈️ russian air terrorist!
🇺🇦 Glory to Ukraine!
Stay tuned!— Ukrainian Air Force (@KpsZSU) July 8, 2026
UPDATE
Ukrainian Air Force confirmed that a Russian SU-35S was shot down.
⚡️ CONFIRMED!
On July 8, 2026, a Russian Su-35 multi-role fighter was shot down on the eastern sector!🇺🇦 Glory to Ukraine!
✊ Together to victory! pic.twitter.com/r8S9fgQaC5— Ukrainian Air Force (@KpsZSU) July 8, 2026
