russian Su-30SM multirole fighter jet has been destroyed in a suspected act of sabotage at the Rostov-on-Don Central Air Base, highlighting growing domestic opposition to Vladimir Putin's regime. The aircraft, carrying tail number 35, was completely consumed by fire, with no reports of damage containment or salvage. Valued at an estimated $50 million, the loss of the Su-30SM aircraft represents a substantial material and symbolic setback for the Armed Forces of russia.
While russian media has remained silent or downplayed the event, the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine confirmed the destruction and attributed it to a broader wave of internal resistance growing within russian territory. This latest act reflects a rising tide of individuals and groups willing to resist the Kremlin from within, aiming to weaken the war machine and undermine Vladimir Putin's authoritarian rule.
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"This is yet another act of opposition to the criminal Putin regime," the Defense Intelligence reported. "The scale of forces ready to resist the Kremlin and participate in the demilitarization of the aggressor state is steadily increasing."
Rostov-on-Don is a key strategic hub for russia's military logistics and command operations, particularly for its southern military district, which is heavily involved in operations against Ukraine. A successful strike or sabotage effort on such a base is not only tactically damaging but also politically symbolic, illustrating that even in the russian heartland, resistance is taking root.
As Defense Express previously reported, on April 23, the Armed Forces of Ukraine launched a long-range strike on a high-value russian military-industrial facility located in the Republic of Tatarstan, a region deep inside the russian federation, more than 1,000 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.
The target was a drone manufacturing plant situated within the Alabuga Special Economic Zone, a key industrial cluster that has become increasingly involved in supporting russia's war effort.
Read more: Confirmed Strike Damages Final Assembly Workshop at Plant in Alabuga Producing Hundreds of Combat Drones for russia Daily
