A russian Su-30SM aircraft was destroyed over the Black Sea. This was reported by the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine on Telegram on September 12.
"During an operation in the Black Sea waters, soldiers of a special unit of the MID of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine destroyed a russian Su-30SM combat aircraft with a hit from a man-portable air-defense system (MANPADS)", - the report stated.
The fighter, which fell into the sea, was part of the 43rd Separate Naval Aviation Regiment of the russian Aerospace Forces, based at the airfield in the city of Saky in temporarily occupied Crimea.
It is noted that the occupiers lost contact with their combat aircraft on September 11, around 5 a.m. Approximately three hours later, the russians launched a search and rescue operation involving an An-26 aircraft and Mi-8 and Ka-27 helicopters.
"Around noon, the invaders reported to their command about a characteristic spot of aviation fuel found in the sea, 70 kilometers northwest of Cape Tarkhankut, and soon spotted the wreckage of the destroyed Su-30SM", - the MID wrote.
The cost of such an aircraft is approximately $50 million.