A recently released video captures the final moments of Ukrainian Su-25 pilot Colonel Vladyslav Rykov, who was killed when a Russian missile tore his aircraft apart over the Donetsk region on February 7, 2025.
The Final Mission
The recording surfaced recently, almost a year after the aircraft was shot down. Experienced Su-25 pilot Colonel Vladyslav Rykov was killed during a mission near the town of Kurakhove in the Donetsk region. The footage was likely captured by a standard GoPro-type camera mounted on a pylon under the left wing, a common practice among Ukrainian pilots to document sorties.
The video shows the “Blue 21” aircraft engaging in low-altitude flight maneuvers before being struck. The missile impact was severe, tearing the robust Su-25 into pieces. While the pilot had little chance of survival, likely killed instantly by shrapnel, the camera survived the fall and was later recovered from a field. The footage was released by colleagues or family with the caption: “Do not romanticize the pilot’s profession.”
A Distinguished Pilot
The fallen pilot, Colonel Rykov, served as a deputy brigade commander responsible for training in the 299th Tactical Aviation Brigade. During the war, he completed 385 combat sorties. He received six awards for courage and was posthumously granted the title of Hero of Ukraine, the nation’s highest military distinction. He is survived by his wife and seven-year-old daughter.
Tactical Risks and Equipment
The footage highlights the perilous conditions for Ukrainian Su-25 pilots. These armored ground-attack aircraft must fly close to the front lines to engage targets with guns, unguided rockets, and bombs. To mitigate the threat of MANPADS, pilots often fly at low altitudes, pop up to fire, and immediately retreat. Despite these tactics, Su-25s are among the most frequently destroyed machines in this war.
The situation has been slightly improved by the integration of French Hammer guided bombs, which allow pilots to release munitions from a safer distance of several kilometers. However, the effectiveness of close-range attacks remains questionable, and pilots often have no alternative methods of operation.
The Missile Threat
The specific weapon used in the attack remains unconfirmed, though the R-37M is frequently cited. This long-range air-to-air missile, carried by Russian MiG-31 and Su-35 fighters, has a range exceeding 200 kilometers and a high transit speed, leaving targets with minimal reaction time. Alternatively, a heavy surface-to-air system like the S-300 or S-400 could have been responsible given the explosion’s magnitude.
Resilience of the Air Force
Despite Russian superiority on paper, the Ukrainian Air Force remains operational in the fourth year of the war. Russian forces have struggled with training and coordination, limiting their effectiveness to long-range missile and bomb attacks. Conversely, Ukraine has successfully dispersed its assets and integrated Western munitions, maintaining a combat potential that some analysts argue is higher now than at the start of the invasion.
