Enlarge image

An early warning reconnaissance aircraft of the type A-50 - Russian forces are said to have only about a dozen

Photo: sikaraha / Pond5 Images / IMAGO

Ukraine says it has shot down two strategically important Russian military aircraft. An A-50 early warning reconnaissance aircraft and an Il-22M flying command center were reportedly hit. This was reported by the deputy head of the Committee on National Security, Defense and Intelligence in the Ukrainian parliament, Yuriy Mysyagin, on his Telegram channel on Monday. During the night, local media had already reported on it. There is no official confirmation from Moscow.

More on this topic

  • Banned tear gas: Ukraine accuses Russia of using CS gas

  • Fighting the Ukrainian resistance: "I counted Kostya's fingers and teeth"By Ann-Dorit Boy

  • War against Ukraine: Russia again fires numerous missiles – fewer than usual were intercepted

According to media reports, the A-50 disappeared from radars after hitting over the southeastern Ukrainian region of Zaporizhzhia. The Il-22M11 – a modernized variant of the Il-22M – is said to have been hit over the Sea of Azov and made an emergency landing in the southern Russian city of Anapa. The pilot had requested ambulances to the landing site, RBK-Ukrayina reported, citing allegedly intercepted radio messages.

Bitter blow for the Russian Air Force

The Ukrainian General Staff did not report the downing in its situation report on Monday morning. Air Force Chief Mykola Oleshchuk, however, posted an airplane and a fire sign with the caption: "This is what you get for Dnipro! Burns in hell". A year ago, on January 14, 2023, dozens of people were killed by the impact of a Russian missile on a residential building in the Ukrainian city of Dnipro.

Russian military bloggers speculated whether their own air defense was responsible for the downing of the planes. There have been several such cases in the past two years, wrote the influential military blogger Rybar.

If the losses are confirmed, it would be a bitter blow to the Russian Air Force, as the two aircraft are equipped with expensive special equipment and were only produced in small numbers. Russian forces reportedly have just under a dozen A-50s and about the same number of Il-22Ms.

mfh/dpa