The Ukrainian Air Force shot down another Russian A-50 military reconnaissance aircraft (type AVAX) over the Sea of ​​Azov, Air Force Commander Mykola Oleschuk said on Friday, Kyiv Independent reports.

Russian A-50 early warning aircraftPhoto: Pictorial Press Ltd / Alamy / Alamy / Profimedia

The Military Intelligence of Ukraine confirmed that the plane was shot down as a result of a joint operation with the Air Force. The downing is “another serious blow” to Russia’s military potential, the agency notes.

The images published by the military blogger Dmitry on his X-account show the possible damage of a Russian A-50 aircraft by several Ukrainian air defense missiles, which led to its destruction.

Oleschuk wrote on Telegram around 20:00 local time (UTC+2) to thank “everyone who ensured the result”.

A few minutes later, the Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reported that “an unknown plane crashed in the Kanei district of the Krasnodar Territory.”

The information is also confirmed by some Russian military bloggers, the Russian TV channel Romanov wrote that the A-50 plane was shot down in the same area where the previous one was shot down.

Earlier, on January 14, the Ukrainian Air Force shot down a Russian military aircraft A-50 over the Sea of ​​Azov. An Il-22 was also reportedly damaged beyond repair during the same operation.

The Russians have only a few A-50s left

A-50, nicknamed “Bumblebee” and NATO name “Mainstay”, functions as an airborne warning and control system (AWACS) for surveillance, according to the Romanian Ministry of Defense.

The A-50 crew consists of 15-16 people, including 10-11 radar operators.

According to ISW, at the start of the invasion, the Russian military only had about 10 airworthy A-50s in use, but only 6 had been upgraded. The cost of such an aircraft is estimated at 330 million dollars.

As the Ukrainian publication Defense Express also notes, “no one in history has shot down a long-range radar detection aircraft, and the Ukrainian Armed Forces have achieved what was considered impossible.”

When the A-50 is in the air, the Russians see the territory of Ukraine like in the palm of their hands and know almost everything that happens there – where the plane takes off, missile launches, etc.

In addition, the Russians boast that the A-50 coordinates strikes with modern anti-aircraft systems such as the S-400, making it more difficult for the Russian military to direct missiles at targets.