Russia has reportedly redeployed its fifth-generation Su-57 fighter jets to the border with China amid the ongoing fighting in Ukraine, according to Peter Suciu, a columnist for the American magazine The National Interest.

The assessment follows the appearance of new satellite images online. The images, referenced in the publication, show several Su-57 aircraft stationed at a Far Eastern air base. Suciu suggests that this indicates the relocation of most of these fighters to a site geographically as far removed as possible from the Ukrainian front.

At the same time, he outlines alternative explanations. The deployment to the Far East could be linked to modernization work or testing programs involving the aircraft. Another possibility, he argues, is that Moscow aims to shield its most valuable combat assets from potential threats connected to Ukraine.

The Su-57 is Russia’s fifth-generation multirole fighter designed to carry out a broad range of missions, from engaging aerial targets to striking ground and naval objectives. The aircraft is capable of sustained supersonic cruise flight. It features internal weapons bays, radar-absorbing coatings, and an advanced onboard systems suite. A high level of system automation allows the jet to assume part of the pilot’s workload, including aspects of flight control and weapons preparation.