During an operation in the Black Sea, special forces from Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence (HUR) successfully downed a Russian Su-30SM fighter jet using a man-portable air-defense system (MANPADS).
The fighter jet, belonging to the 43rd Separate Naval Aviation Regiment of the Russian Air Force, was stationed at the Saky airbase in occupied Crimea.
Russian forces lost contact with the aircraft on September 11, 2024, around 5 a.m. Approximately three hours later, they initiated a search-and-rescue operation using an An-26 plane, Mi-8 and Ka-27 helicopters.
By midday, the Russians reported finding a fuel slick about 70 kilometers northwest of Cape Tarkhankut, along with debris from the downed Su-30SM.
The estimated cost of the destroyed aircraft is around $50 million.
