Published on August 16, 2025, 10:29 am EDT – Key Points and Summary – A Russian Su-30SM fighter jet has crashed in the Black Sea near Zmiiniy (Snake) Island, according to the Ukrainian Navy.
-This loss is the latest in a series of blows to Russia’s Su-30SM fleet, particularly the 43rd Air Regiment of the Black Sea Fleet, which has now reportedly lost over half of its original 12 aircraft since 2022.
-The incident follows another Su-30SM destruction during a Ukrainian drone strike on Saky airfield in early August.
-These mounting and irreplaceable losses highlight the effectiveness of Ukraine’s evolving tactics against Russian airpower.
Su-30SM Fighter Down in the Black Sea: What We Know
A Russian Su-30SM fighter jet has crashed in the Black Sea, near Zmiiniy Island, Kyiv Post reported Friday, citing the Ukrainian Navy.
The Telegram post from the Ukrainian Navy featured a picture of the jet, crossed out.
“The intelligence of the Navy of the Armed Forces of Ukraine received a radio interception about the loss of communication with the Russian invaders’ Su-30SM aircraft, which was performing a mission southeast of Zmiiniy Island. The aircraft probably crashed for unknown reasons,” the Telegram post says, per a Google Translate translation.
“The invaders are currently conducting a search and rescue operation. According to available information, the wreckage of the aircraft has been found on the sea surface. The pilots have not been found yet.”
Per Kyiv Post, the pro-Kremlin Telegram channel Fighterbomber posted a picture of the fighter, along with the caption, “…And every time, say goodbye forever. When you go for a moment…”
The Kyiv Post report cited InformNapalm as stating that Russia currently has 130 Su-30SM fighters in service, each at a cost of about $50 million.
An Su-30SM fighter was also destroyed on August 4, when Ukrainian drones struck Russia’s Saky airfield in Crimea.
“The overnight attack, carried out by the SBU’s elite CSO “A” unit, also hit an ammunition depot on the Saky airbase, the agency said,” TVP World reported. “According to the security agency, in addition to the Su‑30SM that was completely destroyed, another fighter was severely damaged and three Su‑24 bombers were struck.”
Su-30: About the Fighter
Per Defence Blog, which cited open-source intelligence analysis by Oryx, Russia has lost 13 Su-30SM since the start of its war in Ukraine.
“The Su-30SM, produced by Irkut Corporation, is a twin-engine multirole fighter used by both the Russian Aerospace Forces and the Navy’s Black Sea Fleet. It is deployed in the Black Sea region for patrol, escort, and strike missions,” the Defence Blog story said.
The story added that the area where the jet crashed occupies a special place in the lore associated with the war.
“Snake Island is located in the northwestern Black Sea and became a symbol of Ukrainian resistance after a radio exchange went viral at the start of the war, in which Ukrainian soldiers used an expletive in rebuffing a demand by the Russian warship Moskva to surrender.
More Su-30 Fighter Losses
Meanwhile, Euromaiden Press reported, citing Militarnyi, that the Russian Black Sea Fleet’s 43rd Air Regiment has now lost over half of its fleet of Su-30SM fighters since the start of the war in 2022. There were 12 at the start, and seven are “now gone,” while at least two others had been
The first such shootdown was in Mykolaiv Oblast on March 5, 2022, weeks after the war began. It was the start of “a series of blows to the unit.”
“Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, Ukraine has been targeting Russian military aviation with all available means, including cruise missiles, man-portable air-defense systems, other anti-air weapons, sabotage, and long-range drones,” Militarnyi reported. “The Russian-occupied Crimean Peninsula often becomes a target for long-range attacks, where the Ukrainian hit Russian air defense assets, Navy ships, and other military installations and equipment.”
“In 2025, Ukraine introduced new tactics that marked a milestone in aerial warfare. On 2 May, working jointly with the Security Service of Ukraine and other defense forces, HUR targeted another Su-30SM in the Black Sea. The aircraft was destroyed by an AIM-9 missile launched from a maritime drone — the first recorded instance in history of a manned aircraft being shot down by such a platform,” the report said.
About the Author: Stephen Silver
Stephen Silver is an award-winning journalist, essayist, and film critic, and contributor to the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Broad Street Review, and Splice Today. The co-founder of the Philadelphia Film Critics Circle, Stephen lives in suburban Philadelphia with his wife and two sons. For over a decade, Stephen has authored thousands of articles that focus on politics, national security, technology, and the economy. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) at @StephenSilver, and subscribe to his Substack newsletter.
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