Ukrainian Su-25 shoot-down captured in a chilling onboard video - Watch viral footage of final moments of 'catastrophic' attack

A chilling onboard video of a Ukrainian Su-25 attack aircraft being shot down has gone viral, offering a stark view of the harsh realities of the Ukraine-Russia war. The footage, reportedly captured from the aircraft’s starboard wing, shows the tense final moments as the jet comes under fire during a sortie on February 7, 2024, according to The War Zone (TWZ). The video records the aircraft’s dramatic destruction after it was allegedly hit by a Russian long-range air-to-air R-37M missile. According to TWZ, the pilot, Stanislav Rykov, was killed in the strike, a fact that was later confirmed by Ukrainian authorities. Rykov was among the Ukrainian Air Force’s most experienced aviators, having flown 385 combat missions during his service.


The dramatic visuals have spread rapidly across social media, drawing global attention and renewed concern over the escalating risks faced by combat pilots operating in contested airspace.


The footage, likely filmed by a camera mounted beneath the Su-25’s starboard wing, shows the jet flying straight and level when it is struck, reported TWZ. A sudden flash and sparks signal the impact, possibly tearing part of the cockpit canopy. An external fuel tank detaches as the aircraft begins to tumble violently. The fuselage appears ripped open, with landing gear exposed, before the jet breaks apart midair and crashes in flames.

According to TWZ, the pilot’s fate was sealed in under 20 seconds, from the first signs of impact to the wing coming to rest on the ground. That brief window left little to no opportunity to activate the Zvezda K-36 ejection seat, if it was even possible, given the catastrophic damage to the aircraft.

Ukrainian authorities did not disclose the exact location where Rykov was lost, as reported by TWZ, though a Russian Ministry of Defense briefing claimed a Ukrainian Su-25 was downed the same day near the settlement of Novotroitske in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region.