Ukraine Downs Another Russian Early Warning Plane

Ukrainian forces have downed a Russian early warning and control aircraft, a major win for the country as its army fights to repel persistent Russian attacks along the front line as the war enters its third year, Hannah Arhirova reported for the Associated Press (AP).

If confirmed, the plane’s downing would mark the loss of the second A-50 in just over a month. I Photo: Mil.ru / Sergey Lutsenko, Timofey Nikishin, Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation

Gen. Mykola Oleshchuk thanked Ukraine’s military intelligence for helping down the Russian A-50 aircraft on Russia’s military holiday Friday.

“Congratulations to the occupiers on the Defender of the Fatherland day,” Oleshchuk said on a sardonic note.

Ukraine Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba told the United Nations Security Council on Friday afternoon in New York that as it was discussing the war, an air raid was taking place and a residential building in the southern port city of Odessa was hit. He said two civilians were “heavily wounded” and taken to hospital.

Ukrainian media carried footage purportedly showing a massive fire that erupted when the large warplane crashed in the Krasnodar region on the eastern coast of the Sea of Azov.

The Russian military didn’t comment on the Ukrainian claim, but emergency officials in the Krasnodar region reported that an A-50 plane crashed in the area.

Several Russian military bloggers confirmed the plane’s loss and some alleged that it was downed by friendly fire accident.

If confirmed, the plane’s downing would mark the loss of the second such aircraft in just over a month. Ukrainian officials said the country’s military downed an A-50 over the Sea of Azov on Jan. 14.

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