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Russian Su-30 Fighter Jet Crashes Near Finland Border, Both Pilots Killed
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![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
A Russian Su-30-series fighter crashed in the Republic of Karelia on November 13, with both crew members confirmed dead.
According to Russian Telegram channels SHOT and 112, the aircraft went down in a forested area near Petrozavodsk, not far from the city’s civilian airport.
The incident involved a twin-seat combat aircraft operating over the Prionezhsky district of Karelia. SHOT reported that the pilots “were unable to eject,” and emergency services are currently working at the crash site. 112 added that the jet fell shortly after departure, though the exact cause has not yet been disclosed.
SHOT also suggested that the aircraft may have been a Su-27 rather than a Su-30, noting that “the model is still being verified.” Russian authorities have not issued an official statement.
The crash occurred near the Besovets airfield, home to Russia’s 159th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment. The unit is part of the 105th Mixed Aviation Division of the Western Military District and operates both Su-27 and Su-30SM aircraft.
The channels reporting the incident stated that the wreckage was found in a wooded area, with no indications of damage to civilian infrastructure.
The Su-30SM is one of Russia’s primary multirole fighters, used for air-to-air combat, interception, and precision strikes. It is equipped with thrust-vectoring engines, phased-array radar, and a combat radius suitable for operations across Russia’s northern regions.
The aircraft typically carries air-to-air missiles such as the R-77 and R-73, as well as guided air-to-surface munitions.
The 159th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment has historically played a key role in air defense duties in northwest Russia. Stationed at Besovets, the unit frequently participates in joint patrols, training missions, and readiness exercises. Its fleet has undergone gradual modernization, but older airframes remain in service alongside newer variants.
Earlier in May 2025, Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence Agency confirmed the world’s first recorded instance of a sea drone downing a military aircraft, when a Magura V5 maritime drone shot down a Russian Su-30 fighter jet near Novorossiysk.
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