Ukraine shoots down two Russian military command and reconnaissance planes, a huge blow to Putin
Ukraine said this on Monday downed two Russian military command planes over the Sea of Asov, saying it carried out a “successful” mission against Moscow's forces.
Officials said the country's air force disabled an A-50 radar detection aircraft worth £260 million, as well as an IL-22 air command plane, as they flew over the Sea of Azov on Sunday.
The Sea of Azov lies between Russia and Ukraine, but Moscow controls the entire coast after capturing large parts of southeastern Ukraine during its 2014 invasion and annexation of Crimea.
“Minus an enemy long-range radar detection aircraft, the A-50, and the air command center Il-22!” the Air Force said.
“The special operation in the Azov region was successful,” it said on social media.
A top Ukrainian commander shared a video of the A-50 slowly landing towards Earth, with the caption: 'This is exactly what the last flight into the zone of no return looked like'
The A-50 (pictured) is worth around £260 million
The IL-22 (photo) is used by the Russian army as an air command aircraft
Ukraine's commander-in-chief Valery Zaluzhny said Kiev had “destroyed” the planes.
“I am grateful to the Air Force for the excellently planned and executed operation in the Azov region!” he said on Telegram.
He later shared a video of the A-50 slowly landing toward Earth, captioning it, “This is exactly what the last flight into the zone of no return looked like.”
He also shared images of the Il-22's badly damaged tail scarred by shrapnel, seemingly confirming that the stricken plane had landed in Ukraine despite the attack.
The photo did not show the rest of the plane because there were reports of casualties among the crew.
“Warriors of the Air Force of the Ukrainian Armed Forces destroyed an enemy long-range radar detection aircraft A-50 and an enemy air control center Il-22,” the Zaluzhnyi Telegram channel said.
The Russian Telegram channel FighterBomber said about the photo of the Il-22: “To say that the crew of the Il-22 are real heroes is to say nothing.”
A senior Ukrainian politician and deputy head of the country's parliamentary national security committee, Yuri Mysyagin, said on Monday:
'Around 9pm [on Sunday]Ukrainian units fired at two Russian Air Force aircraft, namely an A-50 AWACS aircraft and an IL-22, located over the Sea of Azov.
“The A-50 was shot down and the IL-22 was shot down, but was in the air trying to reach the nearest airfield, but disappeared from radar after the descent began in the Kerch area.”
Moscow made no comment on the claims, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov telling reporters he had “no information” about the incident and that further questions should be directed to the Defense Ministry.
'This is for Dnipro! Burn in hell, you inhumans! PS No details yet,” wrote Ukrainian Air Force Commander General Mykola Oleshchuk (photo)
A mortar platoon soldier with an 82mm mortar carries out a combat mission as Ukrainian soldiers hold their positions in the snow-covered Serebryan Forest in Ukraine
The Ukrainian Azov National Guard Brigade has returned to the front and is involved in the fighting in the ongoing war with Russia
Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022
The Il-22M command and control plane limped back to Anapa, a small Russian town on the Black Sea, which was on fire after being hit, with a number of casualties, Ukrainian media reported.
The £260 million A-50 AWACS aircraft disappeared shortly after going on patrol over the Kyrylivka area of Zaporizhia at 9.10pm local time.
The A-50 is one of a dwindling number of advanced AWACS reconnaissance aircraft, while the Il-22M likely carried at least one senior war commander.
The Russian Telegram channel Colonelcassad admitted that there had been casualties on the plane.
Ukraine initially claimed to have shot down the planes near the strategically important £3 billion Putin-built Crimean Bridge.
Ukraine said on Monday it downed two Russian military command planes over the Sea of Asov (photo)
The Sea of Azov lies between Russia and Ukraine, but Moscow controls the entire coast
According to reports, the planes have been flying on the same routes for months.
RBK-Ukraine quoted a source within the Ukrainian Armed Forces claiming the downing of the A-50, and likely serious damage to the Il-22M, which recently underwent a £3 million modernization and refit.
'This is for Dnipro! Burn in hell, you inhumans! PS No details yet,” wrote Ukrainian Air Force Commander General Mykola Oleshchuk.
The Russian Military Informant Channel stated: 'The damaged Il-22 has the [Anapa] airport and landed, as evidenced by leaked intercepted conversations on an open frequency, but with the A-50 everything is apparently much sadder.
“If the loss of the aircraft is confirmed, it will be a huge setback for domestic aviation as there are only a few such AWACS aircraft in service and there are ongoing shortages at the front.”
Russia is believed to have a total of eight A-50 aircraft but needs them in its vast border areas.
Commanders have been careful not to use intelligence-gathering aircraft too close to the active war zone.
A Russian Il-22 was shot down during a mutiny of Wagner mercenaries in June 2023.