Ukraine’s Air Force said it shot down a Russian Su-35 multirole fighter jet on July 8, as Russia works to complete an export batch of the same aircraft for Iran.

“Today, another Russian air terrorist was eliminated,” the Air Force said on Telegram. Ukraine’s Third Army Corps said the aircraft went down within its area of responsibility and released footage appearing to show the burning wreckage. The shootdown has not been independently verified.

Third Army Corps posted a video of the SU-35 the Ukrainian Airforce shot down today. It is a plane pancake now. pic.twitter.com/vQqsth0LCP

— Andrew Perpetua (@AndrewPerpetua) July 8, 2026

The Su-35S, known by NATO as the Flanker-E, is Russia’s most advanced in-service 4th-generation multirole fighter, valued at $75 million to $85 million per airframe. Russia uses it for air superiority, escort missions, and launching the R-37M air-to-air missile, a persistent long-range threat to Ukrainian pilots.

If confirmed, this would be Russia’s ninth Su-35 loss since February 2022, following eight losses over 45 months through December 2025, according to the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI). While Russian state media claimed higher delivery numbers, Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) reported that factories delivered only 10 out of 12 ordered Su-35s in 2024.

The timing sharpens the supply challenge. Military Watch Magazine reported Russia completed the first production batch of 20 Su-35s ordered by Iran at the Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aviation Plant, with the jets held in Russia ahead of transfer while Iran’s defense ministry covers maintenance costs.

Ukraine has also targeted the Su-35’s industrial base. Ukrainian Flamingo cruise missiles struck the Skif-M machine-tooling facility in Belgorod in 2025, with four hits confirmed by satellite imagery. Skif-M produces specialized tooling used to machine alloys and composites in Su-35 and Su-57 production.

The shootdown comes during a period of intense aerial exchange. Ukraine lost three MiG-29 fighters on June 27, one shot down and two destroyed at Voznesensk airfield.

Ukrainian drones damaged at least seven Russian warplanes at Saky airbase in occupied Crimea on July 2-3, acting Security Service head Yevhenii Khmara said.