In the area of the Sea of Azov, a Russian aircraft A-50 was shot down: the first details. Video

On Friday, 23 February, a Russian A-50U long-range radar detection and control aircraft was shot down in the Sea of Azov. The downed aircraft went down in the Krasnodar region of the Russian Federation. It was a joint operation of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine and the Air Force.

It was first reported by Ukrainian public media. In a comment to OBOZ.UA, the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine confirmed the downing of the Russian A-50U aircraft over the Sea of Azov.

In the published video, the woman names the location of the crash as Trudovaya Armenia, a village in the Krasnodar Territory of the Russian Federation. The Russian woman says that there was a big explosion and "it's burning very badly, it's scary". The footage shows a fire near a building.

The network also showed the alleged crash site of the enemy aircraft in the Krasnodar Territory.

Later, another video from the scene appeared. The footage shows several bright dots in the sky. Behind the scenes, the Russians say that the plane released heat traps. But then a missile hits it. The footage shows a gradual decrease in the two dots. At the end of the video, the sound of an explosion is heard.

There are different opinions online about who shot down the Russian aircraft. According to one version, the A-50 was shot down by a Patriot missile from the territory controlled by Kyiv, while another version claims that the aircraft was allegedly shot down by Russian air defence from near Mariupol.

However, the commander of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Lieutenant General Mykola Oleshchuk, clarified the situation. He said on Telegram that the enemy aircraft was destroyed by the Ukrainian Defence Intelligence and Air Force. Oleshchuk also named the call sign of the Russian A-50.

"The A-50 with the call sign Bayan made it! I wish the occupiers "Happy Defender of the Fatherland Day!" We should celebrate at home. I am grateful to the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine and all those who made it possible!" the commander wrote.

The downing of the Russian aircraft was later confirmed by the occupiers themselves. The aviation Telegram channel, which is authoritative in Russian circles, wrote, "A-50 is lost".

According to DIU, it is the downed A-50U, a modification of the A-50. This is a very rare and valuable machine that Russia no longer produces. Before the full-scale invasion, Russia had nine such long-range radar detection and control aircraft, including three A-50s and six A-50Us.

"This is an airborne command post used by the aggressor state for long-range radar detection, control and guidance for strikes on Ukraine with missiles from strategic aircraft. The downing of the A-50U is another serious blow to the potential and capabilities of terrorist Moscow," the DIU said.

The intelligence also noted that the cost of such a vessel, of which there are only a few left in Russia, is $350 million.

"A sharp drop in the speed and altitude of the downed A-50U aircraft was recorded near the city of Yeysk," the DIU said and published the relevant data.

Later, the Crimean Wind Telegram channel reported, citing the Kuban Operational Headquarters, that two downed Russian aircraft - A-50 and, probably, an Il-22 - had crashed near the Trudovaya Armenia village. The fire that broke out at the crash site covered an area of 205 square meters, and 40 people and 14 pieces of equipment were used to extinguish the fire.

According to the Russian media, 12 to 17 occupants on board the aircraft were killed along with the A-50. The terrorists also write about an "unknown weapon" that allegedly destroyed their aircraft.

Interesting details of the downing of the enemy A-50U aircraft have also emerged. According to eyewitnesses, the plane split in two during the crash, with one part falling into a field and the other falling into the yard of house number 13.

The tail stabiliser of the downed A-50 was found at the Borets Truda farm.

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