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Another Russian “state-of-the-art” Su-57 fighter burned at Akhtubinsk, apparently without anyone shooting at it

✇Euromaidan Press
By: Yuri Zoria

ukraine reports first ever damage russia's newest stealth fighter su-57 felon sukhoi jet illustrative sukhoi_design_bureau_054_sukhoi_su-57_(49581303977)

Another of Russia's Su-57 stealth fighters has burned out on the ground, Ukrainian military news outlet Militarnyi reported. A Ukrainian Telegram channel blamed an engine start gone wrong and published satellite images of the scorched airfield.

Russia's war against Ukraine leans on warplanes that strike from standoff range, and Ukraine has spent this year hunting them on their airfields. Its newest fighter is a rare sight in that fleet: Ukrainian intelligence estimated Russia had about 20 Su-57s, against 135–140 Su-35S and 140–145 Su-30 jets, and could not tell how fast more are built.

Satellite images show where the jet burned

The fire broke out at the Akhtubinsk airfield in Russia's Astrakhan Oblast on 29 October. The Ukrainian Telegram channel Absolutely Reliable Source said the multirole fighter caught fire during a malfunction at engine start. It said the jet burned out completely. Militarnyi called the cause preliminary.

Satellite image of the Akhtubinsk airfield in Russia's Astrakhan Oblast after the Su-57 fire, with the burned site marked, 29 October 2026
Satellite image of the Akhtubinsk airfield in Russia's Astrakhan Oblast after the Su-57 fire, with the burned site marked, 29 October 2026. Satellite image: Telegram channel Absolutely Reliable Source

The channel's satellite images show a dark scorch mark and debris on open ground between the airfield's taxiways.

Scorch mark left by the Su-57 fire at the Akhtubinsk airfield in Russia's Astrakhan Oblast, 29 October 2026
Scorch mark left by the Su-57 fire at the Akhtubinsk airfield in Russia's Astrakhan Oblast, 29 October 2026. Satellite image: Telegram channel Absolutely Reliable Source

Akhtubinsk has seen Su-57s hit before. Ukrainian drones first damaged Su-57s there in June 2024, and Ukrainian intelligence said two were likely hit.

The fourth Su-57 hit or lost this year

Militarnyi counted the fire as the fourth time a Su-57 was hit or lost in 2026. Ukraine's General Staff said drones hit several Su-57s and a Su-34 at the Shagol airfield in Chelyabinsk Oblast on 25 April. Ukrainian intelligence later said the state of those jets was unknown.

On 23 July, a Su-57 crashed in Moscow Oblast. A Russian Telegram channel said Russia's own air defenders shot it down.

ukraine reports first ever damage russia's newest stealth fighter su-57 felon sukhoi jet illustrative sukhoi_design_bureau_054_sukhoi_su-57_(49581303977)
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Russia's air force received two new Su-57s in September, its second batch this year, Militarnyi reported.

Ukraine keeps hitting Russian warplanes on the ground. On 29 October, Ukraine's Navy said its Neptune missiles destroyed two Su-34s at the Marinovka airfield in Volgograd Oblast. Two weeks earlier, it reported hitting six Su-34s at Borisoglebsk in Voronezh Oblast. Russia uses those bombers to drop glide bombs on Ukrainian towns.

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