Ukrainian Shoots Down Russian Su-25 Jet With Shoulder-Fired Rocket

Hitting an attacking Russian fighter jet with a man-held, shoulder-fired missile is hard to do. 

That Ukrainian troops continue to score such successes reveals the weight of their experience and their ability to effectively wield such weapons, which were first deployed 50 years ago. JL

Sofiia Syngaivska reports in Defense Express:

A soldier from Ukraine's 58th Motorized Infantry Brigade shot down a Russian Su-25 attack aircraft with a shoulder-fired 9K38 Igla surface to air missile. The Su-25, Russia's close-air support jet, was brought down as it attempted to strike Ukrainian positions. The soldier, call sign Talib, is already credited with destroying four enemy aircraft and two Iranian-made Shahed drones. The successful engagement underscores the continued effectiveness of portable air-defense systems in contesting Russian air superiority. The Igla missile, developed in the late 1970s, remains a lethal threat to low-flying targets

In a rare on-camera moment, a serviceman from the 58th Brigade successfully downs russian jet, marking his fourth aircraft kill

On May 12, the press service of the 58th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade released rare footage, showing one of its soldiers shooting down russian Su-25 attack aircraft with a shoulder-fired 9K38 Igla surface-to-air missile system.

The operator, known by the callsign Talib, achieved the hit in a single, well-aimed shot. The Su-25, russia's venerable close-air support jet, was brought down as it attempted to strike Ukrainian positions. Such clear, on-camera documentation of an aircraft kill is exceptionally uncommon on the modern battlefield, making this video a striking testament to both the bravery and skill of Ukraine's front-line troops.

 

According to the Brigade's report, Talib is already credited with destroying four enemy aircraft and two Iranian-made Shahed drones.

 

"He hates it when any of that trash flies over his ground. And he is a formidable hunter. Stay tuned for more," the Brigade noted.

The successful engagement underscores the continued effectiveness of portable air-defense systems in contesting russian air superiority. The Igla missile, while developed in the late 1970s, remains a lethal threat to low-flying targets when employed by a well-trained crew. By combining modern tactics with proven hardware, Ukrainian forces continue to blunt enemy strikes and protect both military units and civilian communities behind the front lines.

 

As Defense Express previously reported, in a precision strike conducted on an undisclosed operational axis, the Ballista unit of the Special Operations Forces successfully destroyed russian BUK-M3 surface-to-air missile system along with its entire munitions load, as well as the Uragan-1 multiple launch rocket system.

The downing of these high-value targets was executed using armed unmanned aerial vehicles following a rapid reconnaissance operation.

Precision drone strike / screenshot from video by the Ballista SOF unit