--- title: "Ukraine Situation Report: Russian Su-25 Belly Landing Caught On Video" description: "A Russian pilot needs a new jet and probably a new flight suit after a sparky, gear-up emergency landing at an unknown air base." date: "2022-12-10" modified: "2022-12-10" authors: - name: "Stetson Payne" link: "https://www.twz.com/authors/stetson-payne" url: "https://www.twz.com/ukraine-situation-report-russian-su-25-belly-landing-caught-on-video" categories: - "Air" - "Air Forces" - "Around The Globe" - "Attack" - "Europe" - "News & Features" - "Russia" - "Russian Air Force" - "Su-25" - "Ukraine" tags: - "Ukraine" --- # Ukraine Situation Report: Russian Su-25 Belly Landing Caught On Video ![]() A Russian pilot needs a new jet and probably a new flight suit after a sparky, gear-up emergency landing at an unknown air base. The [Su-25 Frogfoot]() attack aircraft, made synonymous with the air war in numerous [stunning videos]() of its high-speed, low-altitude missions flown by both sides’ pilots over the frontlines, comes in low and slow before skidding to a stop on the runway in a shower of sparks with the help of drogue chutes. The undated video posted to the Russian “[Fighterbomber]()” Telegram channel reportedly occurred at an unknown Russian base. https://twitter.com/666\_mancer/status/1601469418097504257 It’s unclear whether this Frogfoot — emblazoned with the Russian [“Z” identifier]() on its vertical stabilizer, which puts the video in the Ukraine war time-frame – suffered battle damage or some sort of [mechanical failure]() that led to the emergency landing. A hit from anti-aircraft-artillery (AAA) or shrapnel from a missile could have kept its gear from extending, or an aging jet nearly 10 months into the war could have broken under the strain of combat sorties. The latter possibility isn't new. Russia's Su-25 fleet, [which have taken]() the [brunt of the war's fixed-wing losses](), has been hard-ridden since the invasion began. Another crash, this one on takeoff, and possibly from the same base, was rumored to be due to these factors. You can read more about that incident [here](). Before going into the latest news from Ukraine, *The War Zone* readers can get caught up on our previous rolling coverage [here](). **THE LATEST** Today’s intelligence update from the British Ministry of Defense noted continued cooperation between Russia and Iran, the British predicting that Iranian support will grow in the coming months in exchange for “an unprecedented level of military and technical support that is transforming their defense relationship.” https://twitter.com/DefenceHQ/status/1601467763675090944 Yesterday we wrote about the deepening relationship between Moscow and Tehran in the context of future Su-35 Flanker-E deliveries and more, which you can read about [here](). Here are the latest control maps from the Institute for the Study of War ([@TheStudyofWar]()). https://twitter.com/TheStudyofWar/status/1601386396152991744 After high-profile Ukrainian attacks on Russian airfields last week, at least one air base has decided to disperse its aircraft in case of attack. Satellite imagery showed that after Ukrainian strikes on [Engels-2, Dyagilevo](), and [Kursk]() airfields, [aircraft at Yeysk Naval Air Station]() were more spread out across the flight line. https://twitter.com/bradyafr/status/1601241635152883712 In its Cold War heyday, Yeysk served as a training base for Soviet Air Force pilots in the North Caucasus Military District. Today, Yeysk is on the frontline immediately across the Sea of Azov from Mariupol, and much closer to the threat of Ukrainian attacks than either bomber base struck this week. You can read more about this important base [in this past article of ours.]() As our friend Evergreen Intel ([@vcdgf555]()) pointed out, only now making an effort to disperse aircraft is like closing the barn door after the horse is out. The crispy wreckage at [Saki Air Base]() and previous long-range [drone attacks]() come to mind. https://twitter.com/vcdgf555/status/1601594861219885056 Speaking of which, large explosions were reported near the occupied city of Melitopol in southern Ukraine along with nighttime air defense activity over Crimea. Reports attributed the Melitopol blasts to a Ukrainian [HIMARS]() strike with numerous secondary explosions. Based on where the frontline stands today, it appears the city is just within HIMARS' range. https://twitter.com/KyleJGlen/status/1601651811655770112 https://twitter.com/NOELreports/status/1601658989582102528 https://twitter.com/technicznybdg/status/1601660671166644225 Time and daylight will eventually fully reveal what lit up the Melitopol night sky, but it’s worth noting that the city would be a key objective for any Ukrainian offensive south of Zaporizhzhia. Early indications are that the strike targeted a Russian barracks, with reported heavy casualties among its occupants. https://twitter.com/IntelCrab/status/1601697039452364800 https://twitter.com/Osinttechnical/status/1601712339199602689 https://twitter.com/NOELreports/status/1601706331895136256?s=20&t=8RUh3a2NF0b3Bk8cThXyvg The [*Wall Street Journal*]() has an interesting story today on the unique and problematic maintenance needs for NATO-supplied equipment, particularly the [German PzH2000]() 155mm self-propelled howitzers. It just goes to show that for every weapon system, there’s a logistical need that must be met to keep it combat-capable for any length of time. https://twitter.com/ryankakiuchan/status/1601544785336356866 The hard truth is that Ukraine is now fielding the most diverse arsenal on earth and sustaining such a patchwork of systems, many from different countries, with different logistics tails, and in different stages of their service lives. Keeping this arsenal operational is a task that is bewildering to comprehend in peacetime, let alone when your country is being invaded. Many of the systems are bound to be cannibalized or sidelined for need of repair not long after their introduction due to these factors. We’ve written [at length]() about the impact those [NATO 155mm caliber]() self-propelled guns have on the battlefield, particularly their accuracy, firepower, and survivability compared to their Soviet-designed [counterparts](). Video from the frontlines near Bakhmut shows one such older system, the 2S1 122mm self-propelled howitzer, in Ukrainian service. https://twitter.com/bjoernstritzel/status/1601638795954507778 There’s also the inherent value in being able to quickly move and traverse the downright sloppy terrain of saturated Ukrainian territory, something this towed [M777 howitzer]() clearly had a tough time of. A Ukrainian T-80BV can be seen trying to help flip the gun back on its wheels. https://twitter.com/Archer83Able/status/1601528292040843265 The Armed Forces of Ukraine claimed a kill on a modern Russian [9K37M3 Buk-M3]() surface-to-air missile (SAM) system near the town of Vesele in occupied Zaporizhzhia Oblast. https://twitter.com/DefenceU/status/1601655920144289792 It’s not clear what Ukraine used to take out this particular transporter-erector-launcher-and-radar (TELAR), but an anti-radiation missile like the [AGM-88 HARM]() can’t be ruled out. To briefly follow-up on our reporting of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s latest [nuclear saber rattling](), NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg reiterated warnings that the risk of “full-blown war” between NATO and Russia remains “a real possibility.” Just in case anyone needed another reason to sleep lighter these days. https://twitter.com/nytimesworld/status/1601329354256039939 Russia is reportedly testing a small “Kamikaze” drone designed to attack infantry and other drones in a video posted to Telegram. It’s further reported to be cheap enough to mass produce, but the video doesn’t show enough detail beyond that the quad-copter has a small warhead that barely knocked the snow off its BTR target hulk. https://twitter.com/RALee85/status/1601664785594351616 Additionally, it appears Russian infantry instructors are taking the threat of [drone-dropped munitions]() seriously, sort of. The video speaks for itself, with the soldier allegedly demonstrating the proper technique to roll away from the dropped grenade or mortar. https://twitter.com/Seveerity/status/1601532434335469568 We will continue to update this story until we state otherwise. Contact the author: [stetson.payne@thewarzone.com]() ### Author social links