Ukrainian military destroyed a Russian Su-34 aircraft in the Zaporizhzhia direction, according to the Ukrainian Air Force. On September 25, 2025, Ukrainian defenders shot down a Russian Su-34 aircraft in the Zaporizhzhia direction.According to the Ukrainian military, the Russian aircraft was carrying out terrorist attacks on the city of Zaporizhzhia using guided aerial bombs.The Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that a Russian Su-34 was destroyed while conducting a combat mission.The Su-34 is a Russian supersonic front-line bomber, developed on the basis of the Su-27 fighter, designed to destroy ground and sea targets in all weather conditions, day and night.The aircraft has a crew of two and is capable of carrying a wide range of weapons, including guided aerial bombs and air-to-surface and air-to-air missiles. Russia actively uses it in the war against Ukraine to strike civilian and military infrastructure.In mid-September, Russia received a new batch of Su-34 fighter-bombers from the United Aircraft Corporation, a subsidiary of the state arms conglomerate Rostec. Militarnyi defense news outlet identified at least two airframes, noting it was the fourth delivery this year following earlier batches in April, July, and August.UAC CEO Vadim Badekha claimed September marked a record number of deliveries, crediting staff and production improvements. A July report based on wreckage from Ukraine shows that the Su-34 relies heavily on foreign components, with 221 identified from 59 companies in eight countries, primarily in the US, Japan, and EU states.Russia began to launch significant strikes on Zaporizhzhia. First, in the early morning of September 22, the Russians attacked the city with aerial bombs.Then Russia repeatedly attacked Zaporizhzhia with aerial bombs. According to the head of the Zaporizhzhia regional military administration, Russia struck civilian infrastructure and residential buildings in Zaporizhzhia with six high-explosive aerial bombs. Fires erupted.