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Camera captures Ukrainian jet shot down mid-flight by missile

Published 1 day ago • 5 min read

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Major Developments

SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITIES

 

Onboard Footage Captures Destruction of Ukrainian Su-25

A camera on board a Ukrainian Air Force Su-25 Frogfoot close air support jet captured a rare footage showing the final moments of the aircraft after it was hit by a Russian missile during a combat sortie.

Pilot Vladislav “Magic” Rykov, 30, was killed in the February 2024 incident. A veteran of 385 missions with the 299th Tactical Aviation Brigade, he was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine. Russian reports claim that a Su-35 fighter shot down his jet. (Read More)​

Video Shows Russian Soldiers Tied to Trees, Forced to Eat Snow for Abandoning Post

Footage circulating online shows two Russian soldiers stripped to their underwear and tied to trees by commanders after allegedly abandoning their posts and refusing orders. One soldier is seen being forced to eat snow while enduring profanities.

Russian independent media outlet Verstka, citing testimonies from former servicemen, previously reported that beatings, humiliation, and other forms of torture are used against soldiers who refuse to participate in assaults or disobey orders. (Read More)​

Trump Warns Iran ‘Time Is Running Out’ on Nuclear Deal as US Armada Draws Near

President Donald Trump warned Iran that time is running out to negotiate a nuclear deal, saying a massive U.S. fleet led by the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, larger than the one previously sent to Venezuela, is moving toward the country and prepared to act “with speed and violence if necessary.”

Hours later, Iran’s Supreme Leader advisor Ali Shamkhani warned that any U.S. military action would be considered the start of a war. (Read More)​

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The Tear Line

QUICK UPDATES

CONFLICT UPDATES

➤ A Russian Su-34 fighter-bomber was shot down over the Black Sea on January 28, according to Ukrainian officials and Russian military bloggers, with early reports indicating both crew members may have been killed. (Read More)​

➤ Russian missile and drone strikes on Ukraine overnight January 28 killed at least two people in Kyiv Oblast and damaged infrastructure across 22 locations, with air defenses intercepting 103 of 146 drones launched. (Read More)​

➤ U.S. Marines from 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment flew to Norway on a chartered New England Patriots jet to participate in Cold Response 26, a NATO Arctic exercise involving over 25,000 troops. The deployment comes amid heightened tensions over Greenland. (Read More)​

SECURITY UPDATES

➤ The National Transportation Safety Board blamed multiple systemic failures for the January 2025 midair collision near Reagan National Airport that killed all 67 people aboard an American Airlines regional jet and Army Black Hawk helicopter. (Read More)​

➤ A 24-year-old Tennessee man is facing prison time after pleading guilty to hacking a VA health platform and posting a Marine Corps veteran's stolen medical records on an Instagram account called "@hackedthegovernment. (Read More)​

➤ President Donald Trump threatened to end all U.S. support for Iraq if Nouri al-Maliki, a former prime minister with ties to Iran, returns to power after being nominated by the largest Shiite bloc. Trump warned that Maliki's previous tenure led to poverty and chaos. (Read More)​

TECHNOLOGY UPDATES

➤ Ukrainian drone forces killed or seriously injured more than 240,000 Russian soldiers in 2025 and carried out nearly 820,000 confirmed strikes, according to Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. (Read More)​

➤ Boeing reported a $565 million loss on its KC-46 Pegasus tanker program in the fourth quarter of 2025, driven by higher supply chain costs and production support expenses at its Everett, Washington facility. (Read More)​

➤ Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Daryl Caudle announced a forthcoming "hedge strategy" that will supplement carrier strike groups with smaller, cheaper unmanned "tailored forces" for specialized regional missions. (Read More)​

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Special Interest

SPECIAL CATEGORY

➤ A RealClearDefense commentary argues that Greenland's acquisition is necessary for U.S. security, citing the island's strategic position, mineral resources, and vulnerability to Chinese or Russian control. The piece suggests that the U.S. should reconsider NATO membership if its European allies oppose the acquisition.

➤ Ukraine's war has produced a large pool of battle-tested drone operators, coders, and technical specialists who, according to a Modern War Institute commentary, are likely to carry their skills into the global market, fueling a new era of mercenarism.

➤ RTX will continue paying dividends to shareholders despite President Donald Trump's criticism of defense contractors' financial practices, with CEO Chris Calio saying the company can support both shareholder payouts and investment needs for Defense Department programs. Northrop Grumman also confirmed it will maintain dividends but pause stock buybacks.

On this day in history: On January 29, 2002, President George W. Bush labeled Iraq, Iran, and North Korea an "axis of evil" in his first State of the Union address after September 11. Speechwriter David Frum coined the term to evoke World War II's Axis powers.

Special Interest

SENTIMENT COLLECTION

Yesterday’s Results:

Do you think facial recognition and AI surveillance will be normalized within the next 10 years?

  1. Yes (92.8%)​
  2. No (3.6%)
  3. Unsure (3.6%)
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Intl. Humanitarian Security Officer Defense Division Worldwide
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Security Director Defense Division Remote, US
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Business Development
SARs Development Director 100K - 120K Fort Lauderdale, FL

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About SOFX: We are an independent media and communications technology company reporting on the conflicts, security, and technology issues impacting your lives and businesses. SOFX was founded by former Special Operations & Intelligence Professionals not Career Journalists or Big Tech / Big Media.

Have feedback for us? We want to hear any and all comments you may have. Contact us at editor@sofx.com​.​

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