Fighter jet from Russia met an accident and crashed.
The Russian military has confirmed a crash involving a Su-34 combat aircraft during a training flight in the Volga region of Nizhny Novgorod. The incident, which occurred on a specified date, did not result in any reported damages on the ground, and both pilots ejected safely from the aircraft.
The Su-34, a modern, twin-seat fighter-bomber, is a key asset in Russia's military arsenal. Since its introduction over a decade ago, the Su-34 has been a significant element in Russia's military operations, particularly against Ukraine. However, the ongoing conflict has taken its toll on the aircraft, with numerous losses and incidents reported.
Since the start of the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Russia has lost at least 36 Su-34s and 1 Su-34M through destruction, damage, or abandonment, including 29 in combat, 4 due to non-combat incidents, and 4 damaged. A recent incident on July 1, 2025, involved a Su-34 crashing during a training flight near the Nizhny Novgorod region, attributed to a landing gear malfunction.
Ukraine's targeted strikes and ongoing air defense tactics have forced Russia to enhance the aircraft's survivability and long-range strike capabilities through urgent upgrades. The Su-34 program is now undergoing significant changes, with the development of the Su-34M variant. This upgrade focuses on enhancing standoff missile capabilities, sensor and targeting pod improvements, and an upgraded electronic warfare suite to protect against modern threats.
The Su-34 can fire cruise missiles and rockets, and drop guided bombs, making it a significant factor in the ongoing military conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Just last week, Ukraine reportedly destroyed two Su-34 combat jets at a military airbase in the Volgograd region.
The incident in the Volgograd region, which reportedly damaged two other Su-34 combat jets, indicates ongoing hostilities and potential vulnerabilities in Russia's military assets. The Russian Defense Ministry is currently investigating the cause of the crash, and further details have not been provided.
The crash did not mark the first time a Su-34 has been lost in the conflict. In June 2025, Ukraine conducted a drone strike on the Marinovka airbase in Russia’s Volgograd region, reportedly destroying four Su-34s and damaging the base’s technical operations area used for aircraft servicing.
Despite these losses and incidents, the Su-34 and its upgraded Su-34M variant continue to be a key element of Russia’s air operations, although with a transformed operational role reflecting the intense air combat environment in the Ukraine conflict. The Russian armed forces are adapting the Su-34 from its original design as a low-level penetration bomber to a standoff missile platform, better equipped to handle the lethal realities of modern air warfare.
The Su-34, a crucial sports equipment in Russia's military operations, particularly against Ukraine, continues to face losses and incidents due to the ongoing conflict. Since the start of the invasion, at least 36 Su-34s have been lost, among which the recent incident on July 1, 2025, occurred during a training flight near the Nizhny Novgorod region.
