Ukraine's air force said Friday evening it had shot down a Russian radar detection and surveillance plane over the Sea of Azov, as Ukraine enters its third year of war weakened.
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Russia had no comment, but authorities in the Krasnodar region, near Ukraine in the south of the country, said rescue workers were on their way to the site of the plane crash.
Russian Telegram channels report that a Russian A50 aircraft was shot down in the Krasnodar region.
According to Russian “military correspondents,” it was friendly fire and the plane was shot down by a Russian anti-aircraft missile.
Some Russian Telegram channels say that… pic.twitter.com/qLiaCXR7RW
— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) February 23, 2024
“Thanks to a joint intelligence operation by the Ministry of Defense and the Ukrainian Air Force, another valuable Russian A-50U aircraft was shot down over the Sea of Azov,” the Ukrainian Defense Ministry said.
“The destruction of the A-50U in flight is another serious blow to Moscow’s potential and capabilities,” he added.
Another video appeared in Russian media of a Russian plane shot down (supposedly it was an A50 plane).
Some Russian “military correspondents” say that two planes were shot down, the second was an Il-22 (unconfirmed).
Waiting for official confirmation. https://t.co/h6n1mfRYe7 pic.twitter.com/7l9STcx8RJ
— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) February 23, 2024
The A50 is a device that complies with the AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System) of the NATO countries. Both are easily identified by the large radar mounted above their hull. According to the private British intelligence agency Janes, the Russians had ten older and seven more modern models (A-50U) that had recently been renovated and were in service.
AFP could not immediately verify this information.
Videos on social media showed several bright flashes of light in the sky on a dark night and then a large fire in what appeared to be a rural area.
Ukraine's air force said Friday evening it had shot down a Russian radar detection and surveillance plane over the Sea of Azov, as Ukraine enters its third year of war weakened. Russia had no comment, but authorities in the Krasnodar region, near Ukraine in the south of the country, said rescue workers were on their way to the site of the plane crash. “Thanks to a joint intelligence operation by the Ministry of Defense and the Ukrainian Air Force, another valuable Russian A-50U aircraft was shot down over the Sea of Azov,” the Ukrainian Defense Ministry said. “The destruction of the A-50U in flight is another serious blow to Moscow’s potential and capabilities,” he added. The A50 is a device that complies with the AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System) of the NATO countries. Both are easily identified by the large radar mounted above their hull. According to the private British intelligence agency Janes, the Russians had ten older and seven more modern models (A-50U) that had recently been renovated and were in service. AFP could not immediately verify this information. Videos on social media showed several bright flashes of light in the sky on a dark night and then a large fire in what appeared to be a rural area. Ukraine had already announced in January that it had shot down a plane of this type in the same area.
Ukraine had already announced in January that it had shot down a plane of this type in the same area.