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By Brendan Cole and Shane Croucher
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A Russian Sukhoi Su-30 fighter jet crashed during a training flight, killing the two pilots on board, the Russian Ministry of Defense said.
The crash took place in an area of the north-western Russian republic of Karelia around 7 p.m. local time on Thursday, according to the defense ministry.
The MOD said in a statement, published by the state news agency Interfax, that the flight had been carried out without ammunition and "the crew of the aircraft was killed."
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Newsweek contacted the Russian defense ministry for further comment.
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Why It Matters
The crash is the latest non-combat aviation loss for Russia. Experts previously told Newsweek that the growing number Russian aircraft accidents had likely been caused by restricted training time, a lack of experienced pilots, the demands of combat in Ukraine, and falling safety standards.
What To Know
The Russian Su-30 multi-purpose fighter jet crashed in the Prionezhsky district of Karelia during a training flight, killing both crew members. Emergency services were dispatched to the remote crash site, and no civilian casualties were reported.
Artur Parfenchikov, head of the Karelian republic, said in a Telegram post that the deceased pilots were from Russia's 159th Fighter Aviation Regiment, and that the crash occurred in a forested area and no residents were harmed.
Karelia, where the incident occurred, is close to Russia’s border with Finland, which joined NATO in 2023 after decades of non-alignment with the alliance. Along with its Nordic and Baltic neighbors, Helsinki has accused Russia of conducting hybrid warfare tactics, which include GPS jamming and buzzing of its airspace.
The Sukhoi Su-30 has the NATO codename “Flanker-C,” and is a twin-engine multirole fighter used by the Russian Aerospace Forces.
Thursday's accident comes after a Sukhoi Su-34 crashed in July 2025 during a training flight in Russia's Nizhny Novgorod region. The aircraft was said to have experienced mechanical failure with part of its landing gear, according to Russian media, and the two pilots ejected safely from the aircraft.
In September 2023, an Su-34 crashed during a training flight in the Voronezh region, bordering Ukraine's eastern Luhansk region, although the crew members ejected safely.
In October 2022, Russian authorities said 15 people were killed when an Su-34 crashed into a residential building in Yeysk, in Russia's southern Krasnodar region, which also borders Ukraine.
Regarding combat aircraft losses from the war in Ukraine, Moscow has lost 428 fixed-wing planes, according to the latest figures released Friday by Ukrainian armed forces.
What People Are Saying
The Russian defense ministry said in a statement on Thursday: "A Su-30 aircraft crashed during a planned training flight. The plane crashed in a deserted area. The flight was carried out without ammunition. The crew of the aircraft was killed."
Artur Parfenchikov, head of the Karelian republic, said: "I express my sincere condolences to the families and loved ones of the deceased. We will provide them with the necessary assistance."
What Happens Next
Russian media reported that efforts are under way to determine the cause of the fighter jet's crash, although it is unclear whether the findings will be made public. There will be renewed scrutiny on the safety issues faced by Russia's military aviation.
Update 11/14/25, 04.00 a.m. ET: This article was updated with further information.
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