2014 Russia-Ukraine War

Su-24 in the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War

Ukraine used adapted Su-24M/MR aircraft as launch platforms for Storm Shadow and SCALP-EG cruise missiles, turning the Soviet-designed Fencer into a long-range strike aircraft during the full-scale phase of the war.

Weapon profileSu-24
SideUkraineRoleLong-Range StrikeInterdiction
Su-24, Variable-geometry tactical bomber and strike aircraft, Aircraft & UAVs - 2014 Russia-Ukraine War
Image source: File:Su-24M Storm Shadow.jpg

Evidence Map

ClaimSources
Ukraine received Storm Shadow missiles during the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War, creating the long-range strike context for Su-24 adaptation.

Sources: Defence Secretary Oral Statement on War in Ukraine

Ukrainian forces used UK-supplied Storm Shadow missiles against Russian targets by mid-May 2023.

Sources: Storm Shadow Used by Ukraine, Wallace Confirms

A Ukrainian government image publicly tied Storm Shadow carriage to a Ukrainian Su-24.

Sources: Su-24 Fencer Is Ukraine's Storm Shadow Missile Carrier

Ukrainian Air Force footage later showed a Su-24M launching Storm Shadow/SCALP missiles.

Sources: Video Shows Ukrainian Su-24M Fencer Launching Storm Shadow Missiles

A reusable image source documents a Ukrainian Su-24M carrying two Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG cruise missiles.

Sources: File:Su-24M Storm Shadow.jpg

Timeline

Su-24 In 2014 Russia-Ukraine War

  1. UK announces Storm Shadow transfer

    The UK Defence Secretary told Parliament that the United Kingdom had donated Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine as a long-range conventional precision-strike capability.

    Sources: Defence Secretary Oral Statement on War in Ukraine

  2. Ukrainian Storm Shadow use confirmed

    Forces News reported Ben Wallace's confirmation that Ukrainian forces had used UK-supplied Storm Shadow cruise missiles against Russian targets.

    Sources: Storm Shadow Used by Ukraine, Wallace Confirms

  3. Su-24 identified as the launch aircraft

    The War Zone reported that official Ukrainian imagery showed Storm Shadow carried by a Ukrainian Su-24, supporting the aircraft type as Ukraine's launch platform.

    Sources: Su-24 Fencer Is Ukraine's Storm Shadow Missile Carrier

  4. Ukraine releases Su-24M launch footage

    Kyiv Post reported that Ukrainian Air Force Day footage showed a Su-24M launching two Storm Shadow/SCALP missiles.

    Sources: Video Shows Ukrainian Su-24M Fencer Launching Storm Shadow Missiles

  5. Su-24M shown carrying two Storm Shadow/SCALP missiles

    Wikimedia Commons records a Ukrainian Air Force Su-24M image from October 28, 2024 showing two Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG cruise missiles.

    Sources: File:Su-24M Storm Shadow.jpg

Documented Use

Direct proof of use

The Su-24 is directly documented in the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War through Ukraine's long-range cruise-missile campaign. The United Kingdom announced on May 11, 2023 that it had donated Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine, and Forces News reported on May 18 that Defence Secretary Ben Wallace confirmed Ukrainian forces had already used the UK-supplied missiles against Russian targets.

The public link to the Su-24 came days later. The War Zone reported on May 24, 2023 that an official Ukrainian government photo showed a Storm Shadow carried by a Ukrainian Air Force Su-24, identifying the Fencer as Ukraine's Storm Shadow launch aircraft. Kyiv Post later reported that the Armed Forces of Ukraine had released video of a Ukrainian Su-24M launching Storm Shadow/SCALP missiles.

Sources: Defence Secretary Oral Statement on War in Ukraine, Storm Shadow Used by Ukraine, Wallace Confirms, Su-24 Fencer Is Ukraine's Storm Shadow Missile Carrier, Video Shows Ukrainian Su-24M Fencer Launching Storm Shadow Missiles

Dated milestones

The supported sequence begins with the UK Storm Shadow transfer announcement on May 11, 2023, followed by UK confirmation of Ukrainian combat use on May 18. On May 24, The War Zone identified the Ukrainian Su-24 as the public launch platform after official Ukrainian imagery showed the missile on a Fencer.

By August 2024, Ukrainian Air Force imagery had moved the evidence from carriage to launch. Kyiv Post reported that a short video released by Lt. Gen. Mykola Oleshchuk for Ukrainian Air Force Day showed a Su-24M releasing two Storm Shadow/SCALP missiles, and described the integration as using repurposed underwing pylons from retired RAF Tornado GR4 aircraft.

Sources: Defence Secretary Oral Statement on War in Ukraine, Storm Shadow Used by Ukraine, Wallace Confirms, Su-24 Fencer Is Ukraine's Storm Shadow Missile Carrier, Video Shows Ukrainian Su-24M Fencer Launching Storm Shadow Missiles

Role in the conflict

In Ukrainian service, the Su-24's documented conflict role was long-range strike and interdiction rather than routine close air support. The aircraft provided the launch platform for Western air-launched cruise missiles that could be fired against Russian targets in occupied Ukrainian territory and, under later policy changes, selected military targets inside Russia.

The evidence supports Ukraine as the operator and Su-24M/MR aircraft as adapted launch platforms. Public reporting often groups British Storm Shadow and French SCALP-EG because the missiles are related and externally similar; this record therefore treats the Su-24's supported role as the launch aircraft for the Storm Shadow/SCALP family unless a source specifies only one national variant.

Sources: Defence Secretary Oral Statement on War in Ukraine, Su-24 Fencer Is Ukraine's Storm Shadow Missile Carrier, Video Shows Ukrainian Su-24M Fencer Launching Storm Shadow Missiles, File:Su-24M Storm Shadow.jpg

Images

Conflict Context

Ukrainian Air Force Su-24M carrying two Storm Shadow or SCALP-EG cruise missiles
A Ukrainian Air Force Su-24M carrying two Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG cruise missiles in an image listed by Wikimedia Commons as dated October 28, 2024.

Sources: File:Su-24M Storm Shadow.jpg

Related Weapons by Role

V2U, Autonomous loitering munition, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsV2UAutonomous loitering munitionV2U is a Russian electric loitering munition documented by Ukraine's Defence Intelligence during the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War. Public intelligence material describes a small catapult-launched UAV with a 1.2 m wingspan, LTE control option, computer-vision-assisted navigation, and onboard AI hardware that may allow automatic target detection and engagement when communications or satellite navigation are degraded; the full system manufacturer remains publicly unidentified.
107 more weapons
Back to Su-24Browse 2014 Russia-Ukraine War

Sources