A Russian Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jet crossed into Ukrainian-controlled airspace over Sumy Oblast, flying over the village of Uhroyidy to launch a guided missile toward the city of Sumy before returning safely to Kursk.
The flight allowed the Russian Aerospace Forces to probe Ukrainian air defence networks in the border region, according to a report published by Military Watch Magazine.
Mission details and missile strike
Military Watch Magazine reported that the Su-35S aircraft crossed the border into Ukrainian airspace, passed over Uhroyidy, and fired an Kh-59/69 guided missile aimed at Sumy. Following the strike, the jet turned back and re-entered Russian-controlled airspace in neighbouring Kursk Oblast.
The Sukhoi Su-35 is a single-seat, twin-engine multirole fourth-generation fighter aircraft operated by the Russian Aerospace Forces. The Kh-59 and its updated variant, the Kh-69, are precision-guided air-to-surface cruise missiles designed to destroy fortified ground targets from extended ranges.
Sumy Oblast is located in northeastern Ukraine and shares a long border with Russia's Kursk Oblast. Due to its proximity to the frontier, the region has been a frequent site of aerial combat and reconnaissance activity throughout the conflict.
Shift in tactical aviation methods
Military analysts at the magazine described the Su-35 sortie as unusual because Russian forces have primarily relied on unguided glide bombs fitted with pop-out wings for recent strike missions. These glide bombs allow aircraft to launch munitions from well inside Russian airspace without venturing near adversary air defences.
If confirmed, the publication noted that the deep flight path represents a noticeable departure from standard operational patterns established during the war. It suggested the maneuver could reflect an evolving tactical doctrine driven by deteriorating air defence capabilities on the Ukrainian side.
Air defence systems rely on networked radar arrays and surface-to-air missile batteries to track airborne targets and intercept incoming weapons. By flying over Uhroyidy, the Su-35S operated much closer to Ukrainian defensive batteries than standard mission profiles require.
Testing air defence coverage
Military Watch Magazine stated that the most probable explanation for the flight path was a deliberate test of Ukrainian air defence reactions. Brief incursions across the border allow Russian military planners to gather data on enemy radar coverage, system response times, and the locations of active anti-aircraft missile batteries.
The publication concluded that the mission could indicate a shifting balance of power between Russian tactical aviation units and Ukrainian ground-based air defences along the northern front.
The aerial report followed earlier statements by Ukrainian news outlet Strana.ua, which reported on its Telegram channel that Sumy had been subjected to a massive raid by unmanned aerial vehicles.
