What Brought Down Ukrainian Su-27: Own F-16 or Russian Drone?

A Ukrainian Su-27 fighter jet was downed over the weekend in a puzzling incident near Cherkassy, with conflicting reports pointing to either a mid-air collision with a Russian drone or a case of mistaken identity involving Ukraine’s own F-16.

Initial accounts claimed the Su-27 was destroyed on the ground at an airbase in Cherkassy. However, footage that surfaced online later revealed the aircraft crashing mid-air, with the pilot successfully ejecting before impact. The Ukrainian Defense Ministry confirmed the loss but withheld further details, triggering widespread speculation.

One version attributes the crash to a failed interception attempt. The Su-27 was reportedly engaging a Russian Geran-2 drone—known internationally as the Shahed-136—when it either collided with the UAV or was struck during the attempt. Online visuals support the mid-air destruction theory, though no clear contact with the drone is visible.

Another account suggests a more troubling cause: friendly fire. Public sources and unofficial media allege that a Ukrainian F-16, also deployed to intercept Russian drones during the same mission, may have mistakenly targeted the Su-27, misidentifying it as a hostile object. This version claims the F-16 pilot confused the large twin-engine Su-27 with the much smaller Geran-2 loitering munition.

Oleg Petrenko, a commander linked to the Ukrainian 3rd Separate Assault Brigade, commented vaguely on the event, citing a “human factor” while praising the pilot's response. “Something happened that shouldn't have happened. I won’t go into details,” he said during a television appearance.

Ukraine has increasingly resorted to using fighter jets to intercept Geran-2 drones due to an acute shortage of ground-based air defense systems. These drones, launched frequently in waves by Russia, often bypass traditional air defenses, forcing pilots to engage at risky altitudes and speeds.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly urged Western allies for more air defense systems, including Patriots and NASAMS, but deliveries remain slow and limited.

An official investigation is underway, but until results are made public, the cause—whether mechanical failure, drone collision, or misfire by a Ukrainian F-16—remains uncertain.