July 23, 2026, 5:13 p.mJuly 23, 2026, 5:13 p.m
This picture is supposed to show the crashed Su-57.Image: x.com
A Russian fighter jet crashed near the capital Moscow. The accident happened shortly after takeoff and the pilot was able to escape using the ejector seat, the Defense Ministry in Moscow told Russian news agencies.
“The plane crashed in an uninhabited area, there is no damage on the ground,” the statement said. According to media reports, the aircraft is one of the modern Su-57s.
The authorities are officially investigating a technical error in the plane. Russian military blogger Vladimir Romanov, however, suggested that the fighter jet was shot down by its own anti-aircraft defense. He did not provide any evidence for this version. Ukrainian mibloggers claimed that Russian anti-aircraft defenses were manipulated by Ukrainian forces for this purpose. Here too, there is currently no evidence.
The Su-57 is a Russian multi-role fighter jet manufactured by the aircraft manufacturer Sukhoi that has been in series production since 2019. It can be used for air combat as well as for firing at ground targets. Moscow used the Su-57 in the war against Ukraine. Only a few dozen examples of the aircraft were built. The loss is therefore heavy. (sda/dpa/cpf)