Near the frontline, a Russian Su-25 ground attack aircraft crashed on 13 June under unclear circumstances in the occupied part of Donetsk Oblast, with reports and video footage suggesting multiple possible causes, including friendly fire and structural failure.

According to Militarnyi, sources close to Russian military personnel confirmed that a Su-25 of the Russian Aerospace Forces was lost in an aviation incident. Russian blogger Illia Tumanov and the Russian aviation channel Fighterbomber reported that the pilot survived. The Telegram channel Aviahub also confirmed the loss, noting that there was no evidence of hostile fire impacting the aircraft.

Those Russian sources did not disclose the cause of the crash or the location of the aircraft’s fall. A Ukrainian source, however, reported that the incident occurred near occupied Soledar, Donetsk Oblast.

Possibly, blue-on-blue

A later update introduced video footage that verified the aircraft’s destruction and allowed Militarnyi to formulate potential explanations:

• One theory suggests the Su-25 may have been hit by a missile fired by another Su-25 flying behind it. The rocket was launched at close range, and may have struck the aircraft’s wing. The warhead might not have exploded due to the fuse failing to arm at such a short distance, but the impact alone could have caused serious damage. Although the footage shows the launch occurred on the left side and the right wing detached, video perspective makes it difficult to be certain—so this theory remains plausible.
• A second theory suggests accidental missile malfunction, where the unguided rocket failed to launch properly and exploded, damaging the plane. A white smoke cloud appearing at the moment of the wing’s detachment supports this idea, though it might also be vaporized aviation fuel from the airframe rupture.
• A third potential explanation is a structural defect in the aircraft’s frame. The wing broke off during a turn—a moment of maximum structural stress. With the average age of Russian Su-25s nearing 40 years, such failures are increasingly frequent. This theory is supported by the history of multiple similar incidents during the current war.

Long history of Russia’s non-combat Su-25 losses

The Russian Air Force has seen several losses of Su-25s not related to combat. In March this year, a jet went down during a training flight in Russia’s Primorsky Krai after both engines failed. In 2023, two Su-25s were lost to technical issues—one fell into the Sea of Azov during a combat sortie, and another crashed in Belgorod Oblast. Both pilots died.

A similar crash occurred in September 2022, when a Su-25 went down right after takeoff due to control failure during a combat mission.

“Also, a number of Russian attack aircraft losses have been caused by the specific nature of the Russian-Ukrainian war. One of the main factors, in particular, is poor coordination between Russian aviation and its own air defense units, which have repeatedly launched interceptors at them,” Militarnyi wrote.

In December 2023, then-Ukrainian Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk commented on a crash, asserting that Russian air defenses shot down their own Su-25.

Other unique causes include a mid-air collision with a drone and contact with power lines—often a result of flying at low altitudes, which keeps aircraft hidden from both Ukrainian and Russian air defense systems.

British fighter jets intercepted a Russian Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft that violated airspace over the Baltic Sea on the morning of June 13, Poland's military command reported.

"This is another case of provocative testing of the readiness of NATO countries' systems," the statement said, adding that NATO command structures are now analyzing the incident.

The Russian Il-20, based on the Il-18 transport aircraft, is used for electronic surveillance and reconnaissance missions. It is equipped with radar and signal intelligence gear designed to collect information on military infrastructure and communication networks.

According to the military command, the aircraft entered Baltic Sea airspace at approximately 10:50 a.m. and was promptly intercepted by two British fighter jets operating out of Poland.

No further details were disclosed about the exact location of the encounter or how long the Russian aircraft remained in restricted airspace.

The incident adds to a series of aerial provocations reported by NATO allies since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Poland has repeatedly scrambled jets in response to Russian missile and drone attacks near its border.

On Feb. 11, a Russian Su-24MR reconnaissance aircraft flew into Polish airspace over the Bay of Gdansk for more than a minute. Moscow attributed the incursion to a navigational error, but Polish officials dismissed the claim as implausible.

Poland shares a long border with Ukraine and a northern coastline along the Baltic Sea, where Russia's militarized Kaliningrad exclave is located.

Warsaw has repeatedly warned that Russia's ongoing aerial provocations could lead to a dangerous escalation if not firmly countered.

How an Israel-Iran war could help Russia’s economy — and deprive Ukraine of weapons

Israel’s “preemptive” strikes against Iran targeting the country’s nuclear program and killing top military officials could have far-reaching implications for Ukraine and could boost Russia’s ability to continue its full-scale invasion, experts have told the Kyiv Independent. Iran has been one of Russia’s staunchest allies throughout the war, providing thousands

The Kyiv IndependentChris York

Russia has redeployed dozens of long-range bombers to more remote bases within the country, Russian independent media outlet Agentstvo reported on June 11, citing OSINT analyst AviVector.

The relocation comes in the wake of Ukraine's Operation Spiderweb, the unprecedented mass drone strike on June 1 that targeted four Russian air bases deep inside the country.  

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said 117 drones were launched from hidden positions across Russia, damaging 41 aircraft, including Tu-95, Tu-22M3, and Tu-160 bombers.

According to Agentstvo, all Tu-160 bombers have been evacuated from Belaya airfield in Irkutsk Oblast and Olenya airfield in Murmansk Oblast. Some were relocated to Anadyr in Chukotka, Yelizovo in Kamchatka, and Borisoglebskoye in Tatarstan.

Tu-22M3 and Tu-95MS bombers were also redeployed. Eleven Tu-22M3s and all Tu-95MS aircraft near Murmansk reportedly relocated to the Ukrainka airfield in Amur Oblast, Engels-2 in Saratov Oblast, Borisoglebskoye in Tatarstan, and Mozdok in North Ossetia.

The reported relocation of bombers is the latest sign that Ukraine's drone warfare is forcing the Kremlin to rethink its strategic posture, even far from the front lines.

Western analysts and military officials praised Ukraine's ingenuity in the Spiderweb operation. NATO Admiral Pierre Vandier called the mission a modern reinvention of the "Trojan Horse," demonstrating Ukraine's growing technical sophistication and deep-strike capability.

President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed that roughly half of the targeted aircraft are damaged beyond repair. Russia has acknowledged losses but insisted all damaged aircraft will be restored.

A Ukrainian strike allegedly damaged two Russian military aircraft — a MiG-31 and either a Su-30 or Su-34 fighter jet — at an airfield used to launch Kinzhal missile attacks, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces said on May 9.

The extent of the damage is still being assessed, the military said.

Ukraine's overnight strike targeted the Savasleyka airfield in Russia's Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, which the Kremlin uses to launch MiG-31K jets armed with Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, according to the General Staff.

The operation was conducted by Ukrainian Special Operations Forces in coordination with other units.

The strike happened as Russia launched a massive attack on Ukrainian cities overnight on June 9.

Recently, Ukraine has stepped up strikes on Russian military aircraft, which Moscow often uses to target civilian infrastructure. Earlier this month, Ukrainian drones destroyed dozens of Russian strategic bombers and surveillance aircraft in a series of attacks dubbed Operation Spiderweb.

On June 1, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) used smuggled first-person-view drones to strike four Russian airfields: Olenya, Ivanovo, Dyagilevo, and Belaya. The SBU said 41 aircraft were damaged or destroyed, including heavy bombers and rare A-50 spy planes, causing an estimated $7 billion in damage.

Footage of those strikes, released by Ukrainian officials on June 4, showed direct hits on key Russian aircraft. Ukrainian officials say such operations aim to limit Russia's ability to launch missile attacks against Ukrainian cities.

Operation Spiderweb — everything we know about Ukraine’s ‘audacious’ attack on Russia’s heavy bombers

Ukraine was jubilant on June 1 as news filtered through of a stunning drone attack targeting Russian heavy bombers, that simultaneously targeted four air bases, two of them thousands of miles inside Russia. “Enemy strategic bombers are burning en masse in Russia — this is the result of a special operation

The Kyiv IndependentChris York

Ukraine shot down a Russian Su-35 fighter jet in Russia's Kursk Oblast on the morning of June 7, the Air Force reported.

Although no details of the operation were disclosed, the downing brings the total number of Russian aircraft destroyed since the start of the full-scale invasion to 414, according to Ukraine's General Staff.

Ukraine launched a cross-border incursion into Kursk Oblast in August 2024, marking the first large-scale invasion of Russian territory by foreign forces since World War II.  

Reinforced by North Korean troops, Russia launched a push to recapture the region in early March, with Ukraine being forced to pull back from much of the initially taken territory, including the town of Sudzha.

The downing of the Su-35 fighter jet also adds to the losses Ukraine has inflicted on the Russian Air Force over the past week.

On June 1, Ukraine launched its Operation Spiderweb, conducted by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), reportedly hitting 41 Russian bomber planes and other aircraft. According to Kyiv, Ukraine inflicted $7 billion in damage and disabled over a third of Russia's strategic bomber fleet.

The Kyiv Independent could not independently confirm the number of planes allegedly damaged and destroyed by the SBU. At least 21 planes were damaged or destroyed, according to open-source intelligence analysts.

The SBU said 117 drones, launched from concealed trucks positioned across Russian territory, simultaneously struck airfields in at least four regions, including sites thousands of kilometers from the Ukrainian border.

The targeted air bases reportedly housed Tu-95 and Tu-22M3 bombers, essential carriers of long-range cruise missiles used in Moscow's air strikes on Ukrainian cities.

Ukraine war latest: Russia hits Ukraine with large-scale attack days after Operation Spiderweb; Ukraine targets Russian air bases in ‘preemptive strike’

Key developments on June 6: * Russia hits Ukraine with large-scale attack days after Operation Spiderweb * Ukraine strikes Russian air bases in ‘preemptive strike’ ahead of drone, missile attack, General Staff says * Ukrainian drone attack destroys helicopter at Russian airfield in Bryansk, media says * Russia plans to occupy Ukraine east of

The Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent news desk

On 6 June, Russia involved its Tu-160 strategic bombers in last night’s cruise missile strike against Ukraine, according to Ukraine’s Air Force. Usually, only older Tu-95 aircraft carried out such attacks, now both Tu-95s and Tu-160s were used to launch 36 Kh-101 missiles. Militarnyi notes that the use of Tu-160s in such attacks is unusual and signals a potential shortage of Tu-95MSM bombers, which are typically used for these operations.

According to Militarnyi, Tu-95MSM bombers are generally favored for missile strikes because of their higher airframe and engine longevity, which is attributed to several factors: lower flight loads, simpler construction, use of turboprop engines, and suitability for long-duration patrol missions at cruising speeds of approximately 750 km/h at altitudes of 8–10 km. These conditions impose less wear on the aircraft compared to supersonic flight.

Breaking: Russian strategic bombers ablaze en masse under SBU drone attack (video)

Higher operational costs and faster degradation

The Tu-160 is faster and more powerful than the Tu-95 but is significantly more complex to operate, according to Militarnyi. It features variable-sweep wings, which require additional mechanical systems, and it is designed for supersonic speeds that place heavier structural loads on the airframe and engines. These factors result in faster degradation during service and much higher operational costs, both in fuel consumption and maintenance.

Satellite images reveal wreckage of Russian strategic bombers after Ukraine’s Spiderweb drone operation deep in Russia

Ukrainian “Trojan horse” operation Spiderweb likely caused Tu-95MSM shortage

Militarnyi says the increased use of Tu-160 bombers is likely the result of losses sustained during the Ukrainian Security Service’s (SBU) Operation Pavutyna (“Spiderweb” or “Cobweb”). During that operation, at least eight Tu-95 bombers were reportedly hit—either destroyed or damaged—on Russian airbases.

Per Militarnyi, the following Tu-95 aircraft were identified as damaged or destroyed:

• RF-94120 “Kozelsk” (Belaya airbase), confirmed as modernized to Tu-95MSM
• RF-94132 “Voronezh” (Olenya airbase), also modernized to Tu-95MSM
• RF-94257 “Chelyabinsk” (Olenya airbase), confirmed as Tu-95MS as of 2021, though later modernization is not ruled out
• Five additional Tu-95 aircraft, unspecified in their modernization status, were also hit at Belaya and Olenya airbases but have not yet been identified

Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov claimed on June 5 that Russian bombers damaged during Ukraine's Operation Spiderweb will be "restored," adding that the planes were not completely destroyed in the attack.

"The equipment in question, as was also stated by representatives of the Ministry of Defence, was not destroyed but damaged. It will be restored," Ryabkov told Russian-state media outlet TASS.

Ukraine on June 1 launched a game-changing drone attack on four key Russian military airfields, damaging 41 planes, including heavy bombers and rare A-50 spy planes. Kyiv has claimed it had disabled 34% of Russia's strategic bomber fleet in what is seen as one of the most daring operations during the full-scale war.

The operation, dubbed Spiderweb, took 18 months to plan and was overseen directly by President Volodymyr Zelensky and carried out by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU). The SBU said 117 drones, launched from concealed trucks positioned across Russian territory, simultaneously struck airfields in at least four regions — including sites thousands of kilometers from the Ukrainian border.

Two U.S. officials told Reuters on June 4 that Ukraine struck as many as 20 Russian military aircraft during Operation Spiderweb, destroying around 10 of them — a claim that stands in contrast with the SBU's estimates.

Independent confirmation of the damage caused is so far limited to satellite images of Belaya air base, which appear to confirm the destruction of at least three Tu-95MS strategic bombers and one Tu-22M3 aircraft, with an additional Tu-95MS visibly damaged.

Another image shows two more likely destroyed Tu-22M3 bombers on the field.

Ryabkov did not specify a timeline as to how quickly the country can allegedly repair the damaged aircraft. In addition to supply-chain challenges brought upon economic sanctions, Russia would also likely face challenges due to the complexities of Soviet-era technology present in the aircraft, if it were to attempt to restore the bombers.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said on June 4 that roughly half of the planes damaged will be impossible to repair, while others will require significant time to be put back into service.

During a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on June 4, U.S. President Donald Trump said that Putin vowed that Moscow "will have to respond" to the attack.

Russian officials have made few public acknowledgements of the attack. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on June 5 that Moscow will respond when and how the military deems necessary.

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“I said (to Putin) it’s time to open our eyes and to put an end to the insanity of war, which destroys everything and builds nothing,” Brazilian President Lula da Silva told reporters during a visit to France.

The Kyiv IndependentDmytro Basmat

Two U.S. officials told Reuters on June 4 that Ukraine struck as many as 20 Russian military aircraft during Operation Spiderweb, destroying around 10 of them.

The claims stands in contrast with estimates made by Ukraine's security service (SBU) which claimed more than 40 aircraft were hit in the June 1 attack.

A source in the SBU told the Kyiv Independent on June 1 that Ukrainian first-person-view (FPV) drones smuggled deep inside Russian and hidden inside trucks has hit 41 Russian heavy bombers at four airfields across the country.

The attacks rendered a significant number of aircraft irreparable, with others expected to take years to restore. The strikes targeted four key airfields—Olenya, Ivanovo, Dyagilevo, and Belaya—used by Russian strategic aviation involved in bombing Ukrainian cities.

The SBU claimed the operation caused approximately $7 billion in damage and disabled one third of Russia's cruise missile bombers.

The Kyiv Independent cannot independently verify the claims made by Ukrainian or U.S. officials.

The SBU on June 4 released new footage from its Operation Spiderweb, showing targeted strikes on Russian strategic aircraft across multiple airfields. From the footage, it is not immediately clear as to how many aircraft were destroyed.

Kyiv did not inform U.S. President Donald Trump about the operation ahead of its execution, and President Volodymyr Zelensky said on June 4 that Ukraine would not have carried out its drone strikes on Russian strategic bombers if Russia had agreed to a ceasefire.

Trump held an hour and 15 minute phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on June 4, which Trump described as a "good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate peace."

"President Putin did say, and very strongly, that he will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields," Trump added, without making further comments regarding the "response" and did not say whether the U.S. had urged restraint.

Trump's Special Envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, warned that the attack could lead to escalations in the full-scale war.

"I'm telling you the risk levels are going way up," Kellogg told Fox News on June 3. "When you attack an opponent's part of their national survival system, which is their nuclear triad, that means your risk level goes up because you don't know what the other side's going to do."

Ukraine's drone strike followed several days of Russian escalation as Moscow launched some of the heaviest aerial attacks in the full-scale war over a span of three nights. Operation Spiderweb targeted some of the very bombers that rained destruction on Ukrainian cities and civilian targets.

Putin ‘will have to respond’ to Ukraine’s attack on Russian bombers, Trump says after call with Kremlin chief

Trump said he spoke to Putin over the phone for an hour and 15 minutes on June 4 and that it was “a good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate peace.”

The Kyiv IndependentAbbey Fenbert

Russian authorities are weighing whether to reward residents who tried to stop Ukrainian drones by throwing stones at them during a mass drone strike on Russian air bases, Governor of Russia's Irkutsk Oblast Igor Kobzev said on June 2.

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has claimed responsibility for the coordinated strike, which it says hit 41 Russian military aircraft across four strategic airfields, including Belaya in Irkutsk Oblast, thousands of kilometers from the Ukrainian border.

"In the operational staff, we will evaluate the actions of concerned citizens who tried to interfere with the work of drones and decide on their recognition," Kobzev wrote on Telegram, praising locals for what he called their "non-indifference."

Videos that surfaced on Russian social media earlier showed civilians in Irkutsk hurling rocks at first-person-view (FPV) drones flying out of trucks, the same kind of makeshift launch systems Ukrainian intelligence operatives used in a bold and destructive operation on June 1.

Named "Spiderweb," the operation involved smuggling drones hidden in truck-mounted wooden cabins deep into Russia. At the designated moment, the cabin roofs were opened remotely, releasing swarms of explosive-laden FPV drones toward high-value bombers.

The SBU later claimed that the strike caused $7 billion in damage and disabled 34% of Russia's cruise missile carrier fleet.

The Russian Defense Ministry later acknowledged the attack, calling it a "terrorist act," and confirmed that aircraft caught fire at multiple air bases, including Irkutsk and Murmansk.

Destroyed Russian bombers seen in first satellite images after Ukrainian drone strike

The photos, captured by U.S. aerospace company Umbra Space, appear to confirm the destruction of at least three Tu-95MS strategic bombers and one Tu-22M3 aircraft, with an additional Tu-95MS visibly damaged. Another image shows two more likely destroyed Tu-22M3 bombers on the field.

The Kyiv IndependentAnna Fratsyvir

The first satellite images have emerged showing the aftermath of a major Ukrainian drone strike on Russia's Belaya air base in Irkutsk Oblast, revealing significant damage to Moscow's fleet of strategic bombers, geospatial intelligence consultant Chris Biggers posted on X on June 2.

The strike was part of a coordinated operation by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) targeting multiple Russian military airfields.

The photos, captured by U.S. aerospace company Umbra Space, appear to confirm the destruction of at least three Tu-95MS strategic bombers and one Tu-22M3 aircraft, with an additional Tu-95MS visibly damaged. Another image shows two more likely destroyed Tu-22M3 bombers on the field.

The SBU carried out the massive drone attack on June 1, which reportedly hit 41 Russian aircraft across four different airfields.

Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council official Andrii Kovalenko, head of the Center for Countering Disinformation, said at least 13 Russian aircraft were destroyed in the attack, with more damaged. The claims could not be independently verified.

According to a source in the SBU who spoke to the Kyiv Independent, the operation — codenamed "Spiderweb" — involved smuggling first-person-view (FPV) drones deep into Russian territory. The drones were hidden in mobile wooden cabins on trucks and remotely launched at the right moment to strike bombers used in missile attacks on Ukrainian cities.

The Belaya air base, over 4,000 kilometers (2,500 miles) from Ukraine, was among the most distant targets. Other bases included the Olenya (Murmansk Oblast), Diaghilev (Ryazan Oblast), and Ivanovo (Ivanovo Oblast) air bases.

The SBU said the strikes disabled 34% of Russia's cruise missile bombers and inflicted approximately $7 billion in damage.

Russia's Defense Ministry later admitted to a "terrorist attack" on the four air bases, saying "several units of aircraft caught fire."

The scale and reach of the operation, enabled by low-cost FPV drones, underscore Ukraine's growing long-range strike capabilities, especially against aircraft that have long launched missile barrages from deep inside Russian territory.

SBU Chief Vasyl Maliuk and President Volodymyr Zelensky reportedly oversaw the long-planned operation.

On the evening of June 1, Zelensky described the operation as "brilliant," adding that Russia suffered "significant losses — entirely justified and deserved."

"What’s most interesting, and this can now be stated publicly, is that the 'office' of our operation on Russian territory was located directly next to FSB headquarters in one of their regions," he said in a post on social media.

"In total, 117 drones were used in the operation with a corresponding number of drone operators involved," he added.

34% of Russian strategic missile bombers at main airfields damaged in Ukrainian drone operation, SBU reports

The Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) reported that the June 1 “Spider Web” drone operation caused approximately $7 billion in damages and disabled 34% of cruise missile carriers in key Russian airbases.

The Kyiv IndependentSonya Bandouil

Russian media and officials confirmed the death of Zaur Gurtsiyev, deputy mayor of Stavropol and former commander of the air operation over Mariupol, in a grenade explosion that occurred overnight on 29 May. The explosion reportedly occurred on Chekhov Street in southern Russia’s Stavropol city near a residential building. 

Stavropol Krai Governor Vladimir Vladimirov announced in the morning that “as a result of the night incident on Chekhov Street in Stavropol, veteran of the Special Military Operation and participant in the ‘Vremya Geroev’ program, Zaur Aleksandrovich Gurtsiyev, was killed.”

According to Vladimirov, law enforcement and security services are investigating the case, and “All versions are being considered, including the organization of a terrorist attack involving Nazis from Ukraine” – the official Russia calls Ukrainian authorities “Nazis” to deny Ukraine’s statehood and justify the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Russian pro-Kremlin Telegram channel Shot close to law enforcement reported that two men sitting on a bench outside the building and drinking alcohol were killed by a grenade explosion. The perpetrator is currently unknown, another pro-Kremlin channel Mash noted.

At the time of the publication of this article, Ukrainian officials did not confirm the country’s involvement in the incident.

Footage of the explosion circulates online

Telegram channels published video footage from the moment of the incident. In the video, a man wearing a cap and carrying a bag approaches Gurtsiyev. His face is not visible to the camera. The explosion follows immediately after. This clearly shows that the two men were not sitting on a bench during the explosion.

Gurtsiyev’s role in Mariupol air operation

The Vremya Geroev Russian military propaganda website says that Gurtsiyev “directly commanded the air component of the operation to liberate the city of Mariupol” in Ukraine’s Donetsk Oblast in 2022. He was said to have introduced targeting technologies that “greatly increased the accuracy and effectiveness” of Russian missile strikes.

In Stavropol, Gurtsiyev was appointed first deputy mayor of Stavropol in September 2024 to officially oversee “preventing terrorism and extremism.” He was awarded multiple Russian state honors, including an order for his role in the occupation of Mariupol and Avdiivka, the Medal of the Order “For Merit to the Fatherland” 1st and 2nd Class with swords, as well as the Zhukov and Suvorov Medals.