Ukraine May Have Manipulated Russian Air Defenses Into Downing Their Own Su-57 Near Moscow — UNITED24 Media<br>Language
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A Ukrainian cyber attack may have manipulated Russian air defense into downing its own aircraft, leading to the crash of a Russian Su-57 fighter jet in the Moscow region on July 23, according to InformNapalm.<br>The downed aircraft was a Su-57, Russia's 5th generation fighter jet that Russian leader Vladimir Putin called the "best in the world" in June.<br>While Russian Telegram channels reported that friendly fire caused the crash, the Russian Ministry of Defense officially claimed a "technical failure" was responsible.<br>We bring you stories from the ground. Your support keeps our team in the field.
DONATE NOW<br>According to InformNapalm, the loss of the Su-57 resulted from a combined HUMINT and CYBINT operation conducted by Ukrainian special services. The group stated that coordinated cognitive and cyber actions affected the operations of the Bars-Moscow air defense crew, turning the system against Russia's own aircraft.<br>InformNapalm had previously reported on July 17 that it intercepted and analyzed data, including training broadcasts of Bars-Moscow crews preparing to counter long-range Ukrainian drones. This analysis allowed Ukrainian forces to exploit system vulnerabilities and turn the defense network against the Russian target.<br>Official claims of a "technical failure" regarding Su-57 aircraft are familiar, pointing to its 2025 OKBMLeaks cyber operation that leaked classified documents from a Russian component manufacturer for the jet.
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Ukrainian intelligence reports that Russia's Aerospace Forces possess only a few of these multirole fighters, which can launch Kh-59 and Kh-69 missiles. Ukrainian forces first struck a Su-57 at Akhtubinsk airfield in Astrakhan region in June 2024 during Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.<br>In May 2026, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that Ukrainian drones damaged two more Su-57 jets at Shagol airfield in the Chelyabinsk region.<br>In July 2026, a Ukrainian F-16 scored its first air-to-air victory by shooting down a Russian fighter jet, as confirmed by Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine during a Senate hearing. Ukrainian defense outlet Militarnyi assessed that the downed aircraft was likely a Russian Su-35 lost earlier that month, on July 8.<br>While Russian pro-war Telegram channels initially acknowledged the loss of the jet and claimed a Patriot air defense system was responsible, Caine's statement confirmed that a Ukrainian F-16 brought down the fighter in aerial combat, marking a major milestone in Ukraine's use of Western-supplied aircraft.<br>Discuss this article:
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