In a significant development, Ukraine has announced the downing of a Russian A-50 reconnaissance plane and an Il-22 airborne command post, potentially dealing a substantial blow to the Kremlin’s forces. Ukrainian army chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi revealed the incident on Monday, sharing a video on Telegram showing a tracking map indicating the planes were hit over the Sea of Azov, to the east of the Russian-occupied Crimean Peninsula.
Expressing gratitude for the operation, Zaluzhnyi stated, “I am grateful to the air force for the excellently planned and conducted operation in Azov region.”
A Russian military blog later posted an image of the shrapnel-riddled tail section of the Il-22, praising the crew as “real heroes.” Kyiv’s Air Force spokesman Yuriy Ignat confirmed the plane had reached the Russian town of Anapa but was beyond repair due to fire damage. He noted that the A-50 had been Kyiv’s priority target.
The A-50, equivalent to NATO’s AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System) plane, is a Russian reconnaissance aircraft equipped with a large radar. Typically crewed by 15 members, it can scan a vast area for enemy aircraft, ships, and missiles. The Russian Air Force is believed to have nine A-50 planes in its fleet.
Ukraine’s southern military command spokesperson, Natalia Humeniuk, explained that Russia extensively used the A-50 for preparing and conducting long-range missile strikes on Ukraine. She emphasized the potential impact of striking the A-50, expecting it to at least delay powerful missile strikes.
The Il-22 oversees military operations and sends radio signals to troops on the front line. Russia reportedly has a dozen such planes.
While the Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov claimed to have “no information” on the attacks, military bloggers acknowledged the incident over the Azov Sea. The downing of these planes, if confirmed, would represent a notable achievement for Kyiv and a substantial setback for Moscow, given the crucial roles the A-50 and Il-22 play in orchestrating Russian battlefield movements in Ukraine.
