Ukraine says it shot down Russian command planes, a costly blow for Putin's air force
Ukraine says it shot down a Russian spy plane and airborne command center over the Azov Sea, a significant blow to Vladimir Putin's military.
Ukraine shot down a Russian spy plane and airborne command center, Kyiv’s military chief said Monday, in what would be a significant blow to the Kremlin’s forces.
After reports of the incident had circulated for hours, Ukrainian army chief Valeriy Zaluzhnyi claimed that Ukraine’s air force destroyed two of Russia’s top-class aircraft, namely the A-50 long-range radar detection aircraft and an Il-22 air control post, both crucial to orchestrating movements on the battlefield.
“Thanks to the Air Force for the excellently planned and conducted operation in the Azov region!” Zaluzhnyi said in a post on the Telegram messaging app.
He did not specify the extent of the damage or how exactly the planes were shot down. An interactive map he shared appeared to indicate that the planes were shot down over the northern Azov Sea, which lies between the two countries.
Ukraine’s air force followed with a post on X, with a caption that read “Who did this?” in English and a hush emoji, a reflection of the winking way Ukraine often celebrates military wins.
Rating: 5