The Hidden Costs of War: A Russian ejection Seat Failure

The war in Ukraine is characterised by incredibly large losses on both sides. Once the dust settles, experts will try to estimate losses – both human and financial. But the total numbers will never be known. No one can even agree what counts. If an accident occurs in Russia while the jet is preparing for a strike mission, does it count as a loss in this war, even if ukraine didn’t contribute to that happening?

And accidents do happen.For example, on the 8th of December, it was reported that a couple of russian military aviation pilots died as of a peculiar ejection system malfunction.A Telegram page “Fighterbomber” was probably the first to reveal that this incident had taken place.

Su-34 has a twin-seat cockpit, where the pilot and the navigator sit side-by-side.” width=”584″ height=”389″ srcset=”https://www.technology.org/texorgwp/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/suj-720×480.jpg 720w, https://www.technology.org/texorgwp/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/suj-400×267.jpg 400w, https://www.technology.org/texorgwp/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/suj-768×512.jpg 768w, https://www.technology.org/texorgwp/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/suj-450×300.jpg 450w, https://www.technology.org/texorgwp/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/suj.jpg 1280w” data-sizes=”(max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px”/>

The Su-34 has a twin-seat cockpit, where the pilot and the navigator sit side-by-side. Image credit: Alex Beltyukov via Wikimedia (CC BY-SA 3.0)

The Telegram page “Fighterbomber” is a rather controversial figure. He is a deeply pro-Russian person, a big supporter of putin and the war against Ukraine. He is associat