The fighter jet was struck at an airfield outside Kiev, according to the Defense Ministry
Published 10 Sep, 2026 10:28
Source: Russian Ministry of Defense
A Russian long-range drone has destroyed a Ukrainian MiG-29 fighter jet shortly after it landed at an airfield outside Kiev, the Defense Ministry in Moscow has said, releasing footage of the strike.
The aircraft was hit at Vasilkov airfield in Kiev Region, according to the ministry.
“Caught on the ground. Burned in one MiG,” the ministry said in a brief statement on Wednesday, playing on the Russian word mig, meaning “a moment” or “an instant,” and the name of the fighter jet.
Footage published by the Russian military shows the jet being detected in the sky before being tracked to an airfield and subsequently struck by a drone. Later aerial footage purportedly shows the wreckage of the aircraft.
The Defense Ministry did not provide further details about the aircraft or say whether its pilot was present when the strike occurred. Kiev has not commented on the loss.
Source: Russian Ministry of Defense
Russian media outlets have reported that the strike appeared to have been carried out using a Geran long-range attack drone.
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The strike came as Russia continued a wider campaign of long-range attacks against Ukrainian military logistics and infrastructure. The Defense Ministry on Thursday said Russian drones also hit a UAV warehouse in Nikolayev and infrastructure at the Chernomorsk port in Odessa Region used to receive and store military cargo supplied by foreign countries.
Two dry cargo ships carrying supplies for the Ukrainian military and a tugboat escorting them were also struck while approaching the port of Odessa, according to Moscow.
Over the past month, Moscow has drastically ramped up long-range strikes against Ukraine, a campaign that is retaliation for Kiev’s efforts to damage Russia’s energy sector and shipping.
