Maxim A. Suchkov is the former editor of Al-Monitor’s Russia / Mideast coverage (2016-2020). He is currently a Senior Fellow and Associate Professor at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO-University). He is also a non-resident expert at the Russian International Affairs Council and at the Valdai International Discussion Club. On Twitter: @m_suchkov Email: max.suchkov@gmail.com
![A picture taken on February 3, 2018, shows smoke billowing from the site of a downed Sukhoi-25 fighter jet in Syria's northwest province of Idlib.
Rebel fighters shot down a Russian plane over Syria's northwest Idlib province and captured its pilot, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
/ AFP PHOTO / OMAR HAJ KADOUR / The erroneous mention[s] appearing in the metadata of this photo by OMAR HAJ KADOUR has been modified in AFP systems in the following manner: [in Syria's northwest province of Idlib.](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2018/02/GettyImages-913730440.jpg/GettyImages-913730440.jpg?h=a5ae579a&itok=ehUK8ZcX)
