Russian Su-57 Stealth Fighter Damaged by Engine Fire at Akhtubinsk Airbase
Ukraine's HUR intelligence confirms a Russian Su-57 jet suffered an engine fire at Akhtubinsk, potentially due to fuel issues from drone strikes.
POLICY WIRE — Astrakhan, Russia — Ukraine’s military intelligence agency, known as the HUR, has verified that a Sukhoi Su-57 fifth-generation fighter jet sustained damage from a fire. The incident involving the advanced aircraft occurred at the Akhtubinsk airfield on October 29.
In a social media statement released on November 2, the HUR suggested the blaze might have been caused by poor-quality jet fuel. This degradation is allegedly linked to ongoing Ukrainian long-range drone operations targeting Russian oil refining facilities.
This follows an August report from the same agency indicating that Russia is becoming increasingly reliant on imported aviation fuel. Such shifts occurred as Ukrainian strikes successfully disrupted domestic fuel production lines.
The Su-57 represents the most expensive and sophisticated fighter in the Russian arsenal. While a 2019 report from the Russian outlet Kommersant valued the jet at roughly $35 million, the HUR estimates the export-version cost reaches as high as $150 million.
The Russian government promotes the Su-57 as a high-tech, supermaneuverable stealth fighter. It is intended to compete directly with elite Western aircraft like the United States F-35 and F-22.
Despite these technical specifications, the Su-57 has seen very limited deployment during the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russia’s small fleet of these jets has faced multiple setbacks throughout 2026.
Robert Brovdi, the commander of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces, noted that two such aircraft were hit by Ukrainian drones in April. Additionally, in July, another Su-57 was reportedly destroyed or shot down during a training mission near Moscow.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
