According to Russian military blogging sources, the two-man crew of the Kremlin's Sukhoi Su-34 died in the attack when the aircraft was intercepted by a Ukrainian F-16 Fighting Falcon jet over the Donbas region on Saturday.
It has not been possible for Express.co.uk to verify reports, but several pro-Moscow military bloggers have covered the demise of the £27 million jet.
Su-34s have been a thorn in the side of Ukrainian forces since the war began delivering powerful bombing power for Putin's invasion.
The aircraft is capable of launching supersonic missiles with a range of thousands of miles making it able to strike towns and cities with impunity.
An F-16 is said to have shot down a Russian Su-34 (pictured). (Image: Getty )
The Su-34 is the main Russian fighter aircraft in use over Ukraine. (Image: Getty )
According to one military news site, if verified the Ukrainian F-16 attack is the first air-to-air combat victory. It's understood the aircraft used an AIM-9X Sidewinder missile to destroy the Su-34.
On Saturday Russian military blogger VDV Za Chesnost’ I Spravedlivost posted on Telegram: “Urgent!!! Our Su-34 was shot down.
"The crew was killed. The plane was shot down during an FAB (high explosive bomb) drop with a UMPK (glide bomb kit fitted to the bomb), approximately 50 km from the front line.
"Our Su-34 was apparently shot down by an F-16, which was over enemy-controlled territory. Soon there will be more such losses. NATO has sent F-16s out to hunt. Now there will be fewer FABs flying at the Ukrainians. Consequently, our infantry losses will increase.”
Another military Telegram channel dedicated to the Russian Air Force paid tribute to the crew of the plane, writing: "The earth is the sky, brothers."
F-16s have been donated to Ukraine from a number of NATO countries. (Image: Getty )
Forbes reports that Russian military commentators have been able to act relatively freely when most media sources are heavily controlled by Moscow.
However, Dr Matthew Schmidt, professor of national security at the University of New Haven, told the publication they were able to operate so long as they didn't criticise Putin, adding: "They critique the military and claim it is essentially incompetent but [are] pro-war and pro-Putin and he needs to fix the incompetence of the military."
Around 65 F-16s have been pledged by NATO countries since US President Joe Biden first authorised willing European allies to send them to Ukraine in August 2023.
In August Ukraine's President Zelenksy was pictured flanked by two of the advanced Western fighter jets at an unnamed air base in his country, he said: "F-16s in Ukraine. We did it."
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