Ukraine loses another Su-24M as ageing Soviet-era fleet remains under pressure
Another Ukrainian Su-24M tactical bomber has crashed in unclear circumstances. The crash comes a day after a Russian Tu-22M3 bomber crashed in Irkutsk in Siberia, the third such crash in that region in three years.
Ukrainian Su-24M Fencer crashes, killing pilot and navigator
On 16 June, a Ukrainian Su-24M Fencer tactical bomber crashed in Ukraine’s Khmelnyskyi Oblast. In a statement, the Ukrainian Air Force said the crash happened at around 19:00 on the 16th of June, and the aircraft belonged to the 7th Tactical Aviation Brigade.
The force shared that, “Sadly, both airmen were killed. We express our sincere condolences to the families of Major Bohdan Hryhorovych Zahorulko and Senior Lieutenant Bohdan Oleksandrovych Babenko. They defended our country until their last breath…”
The Ukrainian Air Force says the causes and circumstances of the crash are being investigated and that there were no civilian casualties.
AGN has previously reported that one of the Ukrainian Air Force’s greatest limitations is a shortage of trained pilots, although this is more acute for Western-supplied F-16s than legacy Soviet aircraft.
A Ukrainian Air Force fighter aircraft crashed in Khmelnytskyi Oblast. https://t.co/u8VhU9nqSr pic.twitter.com/IVcHVH1zq4
— The Military Watch (@MarcinRogowsk14) June 16, 2026
The Su-24 attracted attention in May 2023 when it was jerryrigged to carry Anglo-French Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG cruise missiles. They were fitted with pylon adapters from retired British Panavia Tornado GR4 bombers.
Donated ex-French Mirage 2000s take at least some of the burden of carrying Storm Shadow missiles from the Su-24 fleet.
Ukraine’s legacy fleet of Soviet fighter jets
During the course of the war, Ukraine has received limited numbers of MiG-29s from Poland, Slovakia, and Azerbaijan and is negotiating to acquire Poland’s remaining legacy MiG-29s.
Ukrainian Sukhoi Su-24M bomber/missile carrier crashed in Khmelnytskyi Oblast, western Ukraine, on Tuesday evening.
— Status-6 (War & Military News) (@Archer83Able) June 16, 2026
Since 2023, Ukrainian Air Force's Su-24s have been employed mainly as launch platforms for Western-supplied Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG long-range cruise missiles.
It… pic.twitter.com/NtCe56VDw4
A number of Azeri MiG-29s were being serviced in Ukraine’s Lviv State Aviation Repair Plant when the war broke out. Russia bombed the facilities, and it was thought that all were destroyed, although in 2025, one ex-Azeri MiG-29 was seen being repaired and pressed into service.
Ukraine also had large numbers of old, retired Soviet-era fighter jets. It is unclear how many have been restored and returned to service.
During the conflict, Oryx has visually confirmed Ukraine to have lost at least 36 MiG-29s, 22 Su-25s, 20 Su-27s, and 21 Su-24M/MRs.
🇺🇦 Su-24 tactical bombers in action.
— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) July 20, 2024
📹: @KpsZSU pic.twitter.com/AhUxbIoVpT
Ukraine inheritated are round 280 Su-24s with the collapse of the USSR, but by the mid-2010s, only the 7th Tactical Aviation Brigade at Starokostiantyniv remained active. It is estimated that Ukraine had around 20-25 operational Su-24s by 2015.
The Times reported the number of serviceable Su-24Ms may have been as low as 16 at the start of the full-scale invasion.
It is unclear how many retired airframes Ukraine has restored. Some estimates put the fleet size at around 20 operational aircraft in 2025, suggesting that reactivations have made up for attrition.
This was possible due to the “graveyard” dig in long-term storage depots, Frankenfencer cannibalisation, and international partners scouring their warehouses and international markets for old spare parts and tooling (although not full airframes).
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Transitioning to a Western fighter jet fleet
AGN has previously reported that Ukraine’s post-war plan is to transition to a Western fighter jet fleet made up of F-16s, Rafales, Gripens, and possibly a few Mirage 2000s.
Until foreign fighters become available, Ukraine has to make do with Soviet-era fighters. Ukraine has a fleet of MiG-29s, Su-27s, Su-24s, and Su-25s. Both Russian and Ukrainian Su-25s have suffered high attrition.
The Russian Air Force also continues to operate these types, although at this stage of the war, these older aircraft are rarely seen on the frontline. Russia heavily used Su-24s early in the war, but now they are largely seen for rear echelon duties, like patrols.
Ukraine has received a few dozen F-16s, around five Mirage 2000s, and is now expected to receive the first of its Gripen C fighter jets in early 2027.
Featured Image: Wikimedia Commons
