Moscow lost as many as 12 military aircraft from Sept 21 to Oct 30 due to a combination of Ukrainian missile strikes, flight crashes, and ground incidents. The aviation losses, which span from the Baltic Sea to Russia’s Far East, include seven Su-34s, two Su-30SMs, and one strategic Tu-95MS bomber. Financial losses for the month of October alone are estimated between $600 million and $800 million.
The attrition period ended on Oct 29 with the complete destruction of an Su-57 stealth fighter that caught fire during engine startup at the Akhtubinsk airfield. The loss is the fourth Su-57 damaged or destroyed in 2026, a figure that equalizes Russia’s estimated annual production of approximately four jets. Other 2026 losses for the model include two aircraft damaged in the spring and one shot down by Russian friendly fire in July.
