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Ellie Cook

By Ellie Cook

Senior Defense Reporter

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A Russian Su-57 fighter jet "exploded" at an airfield in southwestern Russia last week, Ukraine has claimed, in what would be the latest knockback for Moscow's most sophisticated stealth aircraft if confirmed.

The Su-57's engine was starting up when the incident occurred at the Akhtubinsk airfield in the Astrakhan region on October 29, Ukraine's GUR military intelligence agency said on Monday.

Russia lauds the Su-57 as its most advanced and difficult-to-detect jet, describing it is a fifth-generation aircraft comparable to the U.S. F-35s and F-22s—although many Western aviation experts doubt whether it is stealthy enough to be in this category.

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Each Su-57 costs around $150 million, according to Ukrainian estimates.

Ukraine's GUR said the engines fitted into the Su-57 can "explode or undergo catastrophic destruction" when filled with low quality jet fuel.

Newsweek has reached out to the Russian Defense Ministry for comment via email.

This is a breaking story. More to follow.

The new Russian Sukhoi Su-57D two-seater multirole fighter jet, equipped with the fifth-generation engine known as "Product 177," flies during its test flight in the Moscow Region, Russia, on May 19, 2026. This image was provided to AP by a third party and could not be independently verified.

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