Ukrainian Air Force confirms loss of Su-27 fighter jet during defense against Russian drone assault.
Revised Article:
Ukraine suffered a setback when one of its Su-27 fighter jets went down during a desperate battle against Russian drones, offering air cover to ground troops on the bleak morning of April 28. That's according to an official statement from Ukraine's Air Force.
The pilot parachuted to safety and is now receiving medical care. However, the reasons behind this unfortunate incident are still under investigation. The Su-27, also known by its NATO codename "Flanker," is a highly agile Soviet-era air superiority fighter used by both Ukraine and Russia.
Throughout the grueling conflict, Ukraine has seldom reported losses of its fighter jets and other military hardware targeted by Russia. In contrast, Moscow occasionally proclaims to have conducted strikes on Ukrainian airfields, claims that cannot be confirmed independently.
A few weeks prior, tragedy struck again as pilot Pavlo Ivanov, aged just 26, lost his life during a combat mission. Ivanov's demise follows Oleksii Mes, another F-16 pilot who passed away last August, marking two significant fatalities in Ukraine's F-16 pilot corps.
As of April 28, Russian forces have allegedly lost around 370 aircraft since the large-scale invasion on February 24, 2022. These figures, reported by Ukraine's General Staff, remain unverified by The Kyiv Independent.
Investigations into the Su-27 loss are being handled by a specialized commission, but as of the latest reports, the exact cause of the incident remains a mystery. The commission has yet to announce a timeline for their findings. The loss is the first confirmed Su-27 loss reported by Ukraine since late 2024, occurring in the midst of fiery frontline air operations where Ukrainian pilots face daunting conditions daily. The ongoing investigations underscore the ongoing dangers faced by Ukraine's air force personnel.
- The loss of a Su-27 fighter jet, a Soviet-era air superiority fighter used by both Ukraine and Russia, is a rare occurrence in Ukraine's military, with the last confirmed Su-27 loss reported in late 2024.
- The aerospace industry has been significantly impacted by the war-and-conflicts in Ukraine, with both sides experiencing losses of critical military hardware, including airfields and fighter jets.
- Finance and politics have played a significant role in the ongoing conflict, with the general-news media reporting instances of Russia seldomly confirming losses, while Ukraine occasionally provides updates on their military losses.
- Despite the risk of casualties in the midst of fiery frontline air operations, the Ukrainian pilot who parachuted to safety after the loss of the Su-27 is now receiving medical care, with the specific reasons behind the incident still under investigation by a specialized commission.
- It's important to note that the allegations of around 370 aircraft losses by Russian forces since the large-scale invasion on February 24, 2022, remain unverified, highlighting the challenges in obtaining accurate information during active war-and-conflicts and the critical role journalism plays in reporting such events.
