Two Su-30s Damaged Over Kaliningrad on October 21, Earlier Reports Mentioned Only One

Two Su-30 fighters, not one, were damaged in Kaliningrad on October 21. One crashed, while the other sustained significant damage to its wing.

The OSINT community OSINT Bees published photos of the damaged fighter jet.

According to the OSINT analysts, they received the photos from their own sources at the Baltic Fleet air base in Chernyakhovsk, Kaliningrad region.

On October 21, it was reported that a Su-30SM crashed at 12:53 p.m. in Chernyakhovsky District, between the settlements of Timofeyevka and Zeleny Bor. Both pilots ejected but sustained injuries.

Chernyakhovsk is a military airfield in Russia’s Kaliningrad region, near the town of the same name. It is home to the 4th Guards Naval Attack Aviation Regiment of the 34th Mixed Aviation Division of the Baltic Fleet’s naval aviation. The regiment operates Su-30SM and Su-30SM2 fighter jets, which are gradually replacing its Su-24M bombers.

The regiment received its first eight Su-30SMs in 2016–2018 and its first four Su-30SM2s in January 2022. Subsequent batches were delivered in 2022, 2023, and 2025.

The photos show that the damaged aircraft bore the serial number RF-33838 and the tactical number “89 Blue.” This made it possible to identify it as a Su-30SM2.

In November 2025, the United Aircraft Corporation delivered two Su-30SM2s to Russia’s naval aviation: “89 Blue” and “90 Blue.” On November 21, the aircraft were spotted over the Gulf of Finland while flying to the Kaliningrad region, accompanied by a Tu-134.

Based on the damage to the second aircraft, the crash may have resulted from a midair collision between the two Su-30 fighters during a joint demonstration maneuver.

The photos show extensive damage to the wing’s outer section: the skin is torn, part of the wing is missing, and internal components are exposed and deformed.

Such extensive wing damage will require major structural repairs and likely replacement of the entire wing at the manufacturer’s facility.

Thus, according to confirmed data, Russia irretrievably lost 11 aircraft and two Mi-8 helicopters in October alone. Another two Su-34s and one Su-30SM2 sustained damage.