Ukrainian defence intelligence destroyed a Russian Su-30SM combat aircraft. It was hit by a man-portable air defence system, the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine reported.
The operation took place in the Black Sea. The fighter jet crashed into the sea.
"The fighter jet that fell into the sea belonged to the 43rd Separate Naval Aviation Regiment of the Russian Aerospace Forces, which is based at the airfield of Saki in the temporarily occupied Crimea," the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine said.
The invaders lost contact with their warplane on 11 September at around 5am. Approximately three hours later, they launched a search and rescue operation involving an An-26 aircraft, as well as Mi-8 and Ka-27 helicopters.
"In the afternoon, the invaders reported to the command about a characteristic stain of aviation fuel in the sea, 70 kilometres northwest of Cape Tarkhankut, and soon saw the wreckage of the downed Su-30SM," the intelligence added.
The cost of such an aircraft is approximately $50 million.
Information about the destruction of the Russian aircraft over the Black Sea appeared on social media, but Ukraine did not officially confirm it. Monitoring channels reported that the aircraft disappeared from radar after launching missiles at Odesa Region, Militarnyy writes. The Russian aircraft launched four of the six available missiles and then disappeared.