Ukraine’s military claimed it had shot down a Russian early warning and control spy plane over the Sea of Azov on January 14, in what is perceived as a blow to the Kremlin’s air power.
The air force successfully “destroyed” an A-50 long-range radar detection plane and an Il-22 control center aircraft, Ukrainian Army Commander in Chief Valery Zaluzhny said in a statement on Monday.
“I am grateful to the air force for the perfectly planned and executed operation in the Azov Sea region!” he said.
The spy aircraft is capable of detecting targets at a distance of 650 kilometers (400 miles), serving as a crucial command center plane that relays information to ground troops and its loss would be a significant blow for Russian forces, the Ukrainian Army chief said.
The claim comes amid Ukraine’s struggle to make significant advances against Russian forces in the southeast recently.
The Beriev A-50 plays a critical role in detecting air defenses and coordinating targets for Russian jets.
The Il-22 is an airborne command post. It oversees military operations and sends radio signals to troops on the front line. The Russian air force reportedly has a dozen such planes.
During a briefing on February 23, the UK’s Defence Ministry had said that Russia “likely” maintains six operational A-50s in service. The Ukrainian defense ministry estimated the value of the Russian A-50 aircraft to be at least $330 million.
Russia denies knowledge of the attack
Russian officials have not yet confirmed the attacks, saying they had “no information” about the attacks.
Media outlets have been unable to independently verify the claims.
An image shared on social media showed an Il-22 with noticeable damage to its tail. However, the limited details visible in the picture make independent analysis challenging.
Russian war bloggers said both planes had come under friendly fire, though they presented no evidence of that claim.
Another channel reported that the Il-22 command center was hit in a “friendly fire” by Russian forces, adding that it managed to land back in Russia.
However, Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yuri Ihnat asserted that the Il-22 had been damaged beyond repair, adding that the A-50 spy plane was “the priority target for us”.
Analysts say if claim is true it could be a black day for Kremlin
Prominent pro-war Russian commentators have said if Kyiv has really shot down an A-50, it would be significant.
Rybar, a popular military channel said if Ukraine’s claims about the Russian losses were confirmed – it would be “another black day for the Russian air force”.