Summary and Key Points: Russian President Vladimir Putin is reportedly furious after Ukrainian drones struck an airfield in Akhtubinsk, damaging two of Russia's prized fifth-generation Sukhoi Su-57 fighter jets.

-The Su-57s, seen as symbols of Russian military prowess, have largely been kept away from the front lines due to fears of them being shot down.

-The raid, which took place 350 miles from Ukraine, underscores the effectiveness of low-cost drones against high-value targets. This incident highlights the vulnerability of Russia's advanced military platforms, with one Su-57 potentially beyond repair and another requiring significant restoration.

Putin Furious: Ukrainian Drones Damage Russia's Advanced Su-57 Fighters"

Despots and dictators are used to having things go their way, and Russian president Vladimir Putin has largely tried to put a positive spin on his war in Ukraine. However, Putin is reportedly furious not for the handling of the ongoing conflict, which has seen upward of 300,000 Russian soldiers killed or wounded, but rather because two of his showpiece fifth-generation fighters were damaged—possibly beyond repair—in a raid carried out on a Russian air base last weekend.

As previously reported, Kyiv’s forces employed drones to strike an airfield in Akhtubinsk, 350 miles from Ukraine. The attack was carried out just a week after the United States and other NATO allies gave the signal to Kyiv that it would use advanced Western-made long-range weapons to strike inside Russia.

The Kremlin has seen many of its platforms fail to live up to past hype—and scores of tanks and other systems have been lost in the fighting. The Sukhoi Su-57 (NATO reporting name “Felon”) was different. It was touted as one of the most advanced combat aircraft in the world, and though Russia has struggled to build more than two dozen, it was seen as a symbol of pride for Russia and Putin. Concerns that one might be shot down have kept it far from the front lines, and despite it being so hyped up, its use in Ukraine has been limited.

And yet, Kyiv’s drone operators struck two on the ground. Putin isn’t happy, to say the least.

“Putin is really furious, and the reaction in the Kremlin is very hot and palpable,” Andriy Yusov, spokesperson for the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine (HUR), said on Ukrainian state television, according to Newsweek. “Because they tried to carefully hide and protect the Su-57s. And these Su-57s never entered Ukrainian airspace because they were afraid of being shot down. But they failed.”

Considering the Costs

The conflict in Ukraine has put into question the cost of many of Russia’s most advanced military platforms. Low-cost off-the-shelf drones have been used to destroy tanks costing millions of dollars, but the strike on the Su-57(s) brings this to another level entirely.

The HUR has suggested that one Su-57 suffered “significant damage” and may not be returned to service, while a second aircraft suffered lighter damage that “may be possible to restore.”

According to the Foreign Policy Research Institute, each of the Russian fifth-generation stealth fighters can cost upwards of $54 million.

Newsweek quoted Justin Bronk, senior research fellow at the London-based Royal United Services Institute, who suggested that the June 10 raid could be seen as a “substantial blow to Russia’s long-troubled stealth fighter fleet” and that it marks “another illustration of Ukraine’s most effective option for countering increasingly effective Russian air attacks on the frontlines.”

About the Author: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].