Ukraine says it has shot down a large Russian spy plane over the Sea of Azov on Friday, and social media footage is widely circulating of the alleged downing, though it remains unconfirmed and the circumstances remain unclear.
Forbes is reporting of the breaking story, "Incredibly, the Russian air force has lost another one of its rare Beriev A-50U/M Mainstay radar early-warning planes." It adds "Video that circulated online on Friday reportedly depicts the A-50’s burning wreckage in Krasnodar Krai, in Russia just east of the Sea of Azov."
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| Russia's A-50U Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) Aircraft |
However there are initial conflicting reports, with some Russian sources saying it may have been due to a mechanical malfunction or may have even been brought down by friendly fire. Whatever the circumstances, it seems a major Russian aircraft downing has occurred, based on the emerging media evidence.
In confirmed, this would be the second such large Russian spy plane downing of the war. It was in January that an initial A-50, commonly called an AWACS Radar aircraft, was shot down in the Sea of Azov, and a Il-22 was severely damaged in the same incident.
Assuming this was a Russian A-50, it seems to have fallen apart mid-air with a rather impressive debris plume.
— The Intel Crab (@IntelCrab) February 23, 2024
This is common for S-300/400 warheads. pic.twitter.com/GZUUeoL18G
The January downing was claimed by Ukraine in a message by its now dismissed army chief Valerey Zaluzhnyi. Moscow has charged that Western weapons systems were used, specifically the Patriot missile system.
With the A-50 at an estimated $300 million, Friday's alleged shootdown would mark another very expensive loss of a hard to replace aircraft for Moscow.
Above and below: unconfirmed social media footage purporting to show Friday's downing of a large Russian spy plane, or 'AWACS'.
💥 The $300 million Russian A-50 AWACS shot down over Azov Sea crashed on the coast. This leaves Russia with just one serviceable A-50 aircraft. https://t.co/VyxTTJ9pgE pic.twitter.com/WV5sDAnzqz
— Igor Sushko (@igorsushko) February 23, 2024
Below is the provocative post where Ukraine's defense ministry has claimed responsibility for the downing on Friday.
Again? Again!
— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) February 23, 2024
The Ukrainian Air Force destroyed another enemy A-50 long-range radar detection and control aircraft, worth $330 million.
Great job by Ukrainian warriors! pic.twitter.com/HcLsaGEln5
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