Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine — Sept. 25, 2025 — Ukrainian air defense forces shot down a Russian Su-34 fighter-bomber early Thursday morning in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, according to a statement from Ukraine’s Air Force.
The aircraft was reportedly conducting an aerial bombing raid on the city of Zaporizhzhia using guided bombs when it was intercepted around 4 a.m. local time along the southeastern front line.
“The enemy Su-34 was destroyed in the Zaporizhzhia direction while attacking with guided aerial munitions,” the Air Force said in a post shared on social media.
The claim has not been independently verified by The Kyiv Independent or other external sources at this time.
The Su-34, a Soviet-designed medium-range fighter-bomber, has been widely used by Russian forces throughout the full-scale invasion. Ukrainian forces have previously targeted Su-34 aircraft in airfield strikes and reported successful engagements during combat operations.
The downing comes amid a marked increase in Russian aerial activity over Ukraine in recent months. Following a relative lull during the winter, Russian forces escalated air raids throughout the spring and summer of 2025. Ukrainian officials have warned that attacks — particularly on civilian infrastructure and energy facilities — are likely to intensify further as the cold season approaches.
No details were released on the status of the aircraft’s crew, and the Air Force did not specify the type of weapon system used in the interception.
This is a developing story.
