Russia confirms Su-25 pilot committed suicide with a grenade while surrounded by rebels.

"After parachuting into a village controlled by terrorists, Major Roman Filippov fought to the last minute with conventional weapons. Surrounded and severely wounded, the Russian officer committed suicide with a grenade when the militants were only a few dozen meters away."Sputnikciting a statement released today by the Russian Ministry of Defense.

A video posted on the YouTube channel IDLIB+ shows Syrian rebels approaching Major Filippov's hiding place behind a rock. As the rebel fighters closed in, Filippov shouted "For my comrades!" before pulling the pin on a grenade. A loud explosion rang out and smoke rose from behind the rock, but it is unclear whether any rebels were killed in the blast.

The Russian military claims that Major Filippov tried to steer the Su-25 attack aircraft to the very end to save it from being hit by a missile and to report the situation to headquarters, but the plane crashed shortly afterward, forcing him to parachute into rebel-controlled territory.

The Russian Ministry of Defense announced that the pilot would be posthumously awarded the title of Hero of Russia. "Major Roman Filipov carried out dozens of combat missions in Syria to eliminate international terrorist groups and escorted numerous aid convoys to liberated areas," the Russian Ministry of Defense stated.

A Russian Su-25 attack aircraft was shot down while fighting over Idlib province in northwestern Syria on February 3rd. Russian and Syrian forces are working to identify the type of missile used by rebels to bring down the aircraft.