Ukraine has lost a Su-27 fighter jet while defending against a Russian drone attack and providing air support to ground troops on the morning of April 28, according to the Ukrainian Air Force.
The pilot of the jet ejected and is now receiving medical care, the statement said. An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the incident.
The Su-27, known by NATO as “Flanker,” is a Soviet-era air superiority fighter that both Ukraine and Russia have used in the conflict.
Ukrainian authorities rarely report losses of fighter jets and military equipment targeted by Russia. However, Russia frequently claims to have hit Ukrainian airfields, though these reports cannot be independently verified.
In mid-April, Ukrainian F-16 pilot Pavlo Ivanov, 26, was killed during a combat mission, marking the second loss of an F-16 pilot since Ukraine began operating these jets. The first was Oleksii Mes, who died last August.
As of April 28, Russia has lost over 370 aircraft since the start of the full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022, according to Ukraine’s General Staff. The Kyiv Independent was unable to independently verify this figure.
