VIDEO Russia’s SU 57 stealth plane launched missiles over the Black Sea. There are only 10 in the world

The Ukrainian Air Force claimed that on April 25, the Russian military deployed its most advanced fighter jet, the Su-57, in an attempt to target Kryvyi Rih, a city located in central Ukraine.

Russia has only one type of fifth-generation fighter, the Su-57. It was hardly used at all in Ukraine. Russia has 10 such planes.

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VIDEO Russia’s SU 57 stealth plane launched missiles over the Black Sea. What hit?

Ilya Yevlash, head of public relations for the Ukrainian Air Force, revealed in an interview with a national news bulletin 24/7 that Russian forces have used the Su-57s, albeit cautiously, because they are aware of the potential threat posed by the defense Ukrainian airline.

He stated: “The Russians have already used the Su-57 aircraft, but they are trying to keep it at a safe distance because they are aware that it could be targeted by our air defenses. This is an expensive but unique toy for them.”

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The attack would have involved the launch of a Kh-59 or Kh-69 missile, according to Yevlash. He noted the difficulty of accurately discerning these missiles in flight, stressing the need for expert analysis to effectively classify and evaluate them.

The US think tank Institute for the Study of War revealed: “Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Major Ilya Yevlash said that Russian forces fired the cruise missile from an Su-57 fighter jet over the Black Sea and that the missile traveled through Mykolaiv Oblast to Kirovohrad Oblast before changing course to Kryvyi Rih Oblast.”

However, details of the outcome of the attack remain undisclosed by the Ukrainian Air Force. This latest deployment follows an earlier incident in February when the Russian Air Force reportedly deployed Su-57 fighter jets in combat operations targeting Ukrainian military positions in eastern Ukraine.

On February 18, escorted by two Su-35 aircraft, a Su-57 aircraft launched a missile attack on Ukrainian targets. The aircraft is believed to have used the Kh-69 advanced stealth cruise missile, designed specifically for the Su-57 platform.

However, due to a technical fault, the missile missed its target and crashed in a field, according to Ukraine.

Meanwhile, on April 25, Russian forces carried out missile attacks against Ukrainian railway and logistics infrastructure. Ukrainian military officials reported strikes on logistics and rail junctions in Smila, Cherkasy region, possibly with an Iskander-K missile.

Su-57: Mostly absent from action

The Su-57 remains conspicuously absent from the frontline in Ukraine, where Russian forces have been engaged in a protracted conflict.

Instead, the Su-57 was limited to launching missiles from Russian airspace, a stark departure from its touted role as a game changer in modern air warfare.

Last year, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu praised the Su-57, saying the aircraft performed excellently. However, its absence from Ukrainian skies has raised doubts about its operational readiness and effectiveness in a real-world combat scenario.