Russia likely shot down one of its Su-35S Flanker M multirole combat jets, sometimes referred to as the Super Flanker. This was reported by the British Ministry of Defence in its update on the war in Ukraine.
On Network X, the British Ministry of Defence states: “On September 28, 2023, Russian air defenses most likely shot down one of their own Su-35S FLANKER M multirole combat jets over Tokmak, about 20 km behind the current frontline. Although Russia has lost around 90 fixed-wing aircraft since the start of the invasion, this is likely only the fifth loss of a Su-35S, Russia’s most advanced extensively deployed fighter jet. The location is significant as Tokmak is a heavily fortified city often housing Russian command centers, commanding one of the most contested sections of the frontline. These command centers are typically protected by specialized short and medium-range air defense systems, which are almost certainly kept at a very high state of readiness as Ukraine continues to conduct effective low-altitude attacks on such sites.”
In Russia, the daily updates from the British Ministry of Defence are seen as propaganda.
Image: Kremlin.ru, Vladimir Putin (2022-09-05), CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (image size modified)
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