Russian Forces Accidentally Shoot Down Own Su-25 Jet Over Eastern Ukraine

Reports have emerged indicating that a Russian Su-25 ground-attack and close-air-support jet, identified as the Frogfoot by NATO, was allegedly shot down by Russian forces over the occupied Zaporizhia region in eastern Ukraine.

The incident occurred during active combat operations, resulting in the confirmed fatality of the pilot.

Details regarding the exact location of the crash site have not been disclosed. However, narratives from Kremlin-backed media suggest that the Su-25 was engaged in combat, while Ukraine's Air Force Commander, Mykola Oleshchuk, claims the aircraft was shot down by Russian air defense systems.

"I can confidently say that it wasn't Ukrainian air defense," Oleshchuk added.

Russian propagandist Ilya Tumanov confirmed the loss of the Su-25 from the Russian Aerospace Forces.

As of December 17, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces reported that this incident marks the 325th aircraft lost by Russia since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Ukraine also claims that Russia has lost 324 helicopters as of the same date.

The unintentional downing follows a previous incident on December 5, where Ukraine's Air Force reported the downing of a Russian Su-24M bomber aircraft as it attempted to launch missiles toward targets in Odesa Oblast.

The incident raises questions about the coordination and effectiveness of Russian military operations in the ongoing conflict, as air power continues to play a significant role in the region.