Su-57 Fighter Reportedly Burned Down at Russia’s Akhtubinsk Airfield

A Russian Su-57 (NATO: Felon) fighter jet burned down at the Akhtubinsk airfield in Russia’s Astrakhan region on Thursday, a Ukrainian channel has claimed. Russia has not confirmed the loss.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. The Ukrainian open-source intelligence (OSINT) channel, titled Absolutely Reliable Source, said on Friday that the aircraft caught fire “as a result of an emergency situation during engine start-up” and burned completely. The channel posted a satellite image showing the faint outline of a burned-out fighter jet surrounded by a patch of scorched earth near the airfield. Kyiv Post could confirm, based on Google Maps imagery, that the photo shows the Akhtubinsk airfield, which is known to have hosted Su-57s. However, it could not independently verify when the new photo was taken or whether the wreckage is that of a Su-57. Russian investigative outlet The Insider noted that Russia lost 11 fighter jets and one helicopter in October thus far, including the Su-57. On Thursday, Ukraine said it destroyed two Russian Su-34 bombers in the Volgograd region using a domestically produced Neptune missile. The suspected Su-57 lost on Thursday would make it the fourth Su-57 Russia has lost in 2026. Two were hit at Russia’s Shagol airfield in April, alongside a Su-34 bomber, while another was lost after it crashed near Moscow in July. Moscow said the latter was a Su-57 on a training flight with no weapons on board, and that the Investigative Committee opened a criminal case. Other Topics of Interest ‘Get Them There Alive’: Ukraine’s Railways Under Russian Barrage Russian attacks on Ukraine’s railway network have turned everyday train journeys into dangerous trips marked by emergency evacuations, drone threats and hours-long delays, as passengers and railway staff adapt to the growing risks ahead of winter. Akhtubinsk is home to Russia’s State Flight Test Center, where Su-57s have been tested and delivered. It was also the site of the first reported strike on the jet. In June 2024, Ukraine’s military intelligence (HUR) said a drone attack damaged a Su-57 at the airfield. A Russian military channel, reportedly run by a retired pilot, acknowledged at the time that fragments had damaged the aircraft. The Su-57 is Russia’s fifth-generation multirole fighter and its most advanced aircraft currently in service. It first flew in 2010, with serial production beginning in 2019 following a troubled development process that included India’s withdrawal from the project in 2018. The first serial-production aircraft crashed on Dec. 24, 2019. It was the only known crash until July. As of early 2026, The National Interest estimated that Russia had around 32 Su-57s, including prototypes, against the 76 originally envisioned. Russia has also attempted to promote the export versions of the Su-57 in 2026, with Algeria identified as the only foreign operator as of summer 2026. Anastasiia Bzova is journalist covering politics, culture and current affairs. She focuses on delivering accurate, accessible reporting that helps readers understand the issues shaping their opinions.