World · Europe · 17 hrs ago
Russian Su-57 damaged by engine fire at Akhtubinsk airfield, Ukraine says
Ukraine’s military intelligence agency says a Russian Su-57 suffered an engine fire while starting up on Oct.
29 at Akhtubinsk airfield in Russia’s Astrakhan region.
The agency described the aircraft as damaged, while other Ukrainian accounts said it was lost or destroyed, so its final condition is unclear.
The Su-57 is Russia’s most advanced fighter jet, but the country has only a small number of them.
Ukraine’s agency suggested that poor-quality jet fuel may have caused the fire.
It linked possible fuel problems to Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian oil refineries, which have disrupted domestic fuel production and increased Russia’s reliance on imports.
The incident adds to a series of setbacks for Russia’s Su-57 fleet this year, including reported drone damage and a crash near Moscow.
Russian authorities’ account of the incident is not included in the available information.
Ukraine’s military intelligence agency said a Russian Su-57 fighter was lost or damaged in an engine incident at Akhtubinsk airfield on Oct. 29.
The agency said the incident occurred during engine start-up and suspected poor-quality jet fuel may have caused it.
The aircraft was at an airfield in Russia’s Astrakhan region.
Ukraine’s intelligence agency linked fuel-quality concerns to reduced Russian refinery output after Ukrainian drone strikes.
Reports differ on the aircraft’s condition, describing it as damaged, destroyed or lost.
- Who
- A Russian Sukhoi Su-57 fighter jet was involved; Ukraine’s HUR reported and confirmed the incident.
- What
- The jet suffered an engine fire or failure during start-up. Reports differ on whether it was damaged, destroyed or lost.
- When
- Oct. 29, 2026.
- Where
- Akhtubinsk airfield in Russia’s Astrakhan region.
- Why
- HUR suspected poor-quality jet fuel, which it linked to reduced domestic fuel production after Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The Su-57 incident occurred during engine start-up at Akhtubinsk airfield, according to Ukraine’s intelligence agency.
A Ukrainian monitoring channel shared a satellite image showing wreckage resembling a Su-57 at the airfield, according to Kyiv Post.
HUR confirmed the incident and suggested poor-quality jet fuel may have been a cause.
- Aircraft
- Sukhoi Su-57
- Incident date
- Oct. 29, 2026
- Location
- Akhtubinsk airfield, Astrakhan region, Russia
- Agency reporting the incident
- Ukraine’s HUR
- Reported fuel-standard change
- Freezing point lowered from -60°C to -50°C in August, according to The Moscow Times cited by Kyiv Post
3 sources
What people are saying
One of the reasons why engines of this type can explode or suffer catastrophic failure is poor-quality fuel.
explode or undergo catastrophic destruction