The A-50 and IL-22 play a central role in orchestrating Russian combat movements in Ukraine.

Ukraine has said it shot down a Russian A-50 reconnaissance plane and an Il-22 air command post, in a potentially major blow to Kremlin forces.

Ukrainian army chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi announced on Telegram messenger Monday that the plane had been hit and posted video of a tracking map showing the planes were hit over the Sea of ​​Azov, which is east of the Russian-occupied Crimean peninsula lies.

“I am grateful to the Air Force for the excellently planned and executed operation in the Azov region!” Zaluzhnyi wrote.

Hours after Zaluzhnyi’s statement, a Russian military blog posted a picture of the shrapnel-strewn tail section of an Il-22 sitting on the tarmac and praised the crew as “real heroes.”

Kyiv Air Force spokesman Yuri Ignat reposted the image and said the plane appeared to have reached the Russian city of Anapa but was beyond repair because it was engulfed in flames. He added that the A-50 had been Kiev’s primary target.

The A-50 is a Russian reconnaissance aircraft equivalent to the Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft used by NATO. Equipped with a large radar, it typically has a crew of 15 and can scan an area of ​​several hundred kilometers for enemy aircraft, ships and missiles. The Russian Air Force is believed to have nine of these aircraft in its fleet.

Natalia Humeniuk, a spokeswoman for Ukraine’s Southern Military Command, said at a briefing that Russia had used the aircraft extensively to prepare and conduct long-haul flights Missile attacks on Ukraine.

“We expect such a strike [on the A-50] “It will be quite painful and will at least delay serious missile attacks,” she said.

Meanwhile, the Il-22 monitors military operations and sends radio signals to the troops at the front. The Russian Air Force reportedly has a dozen such aircraft.

‘No information’

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters he had “no information” about the attacks and further questions should be directed to the Defense Ministry.

Russia has largely maintained air sovereignty since a plane took off complete invasion his neighbor almost two years ago. The A-50 and IL-22 play a central role in orchestrating Russian combat movements in Ukraine. Their loss would be a milestone for Kiev and a serious blow for Moscow, as the fighting on the front largely descends into trench warfare and artillery warfare.

Russian military bloggers with close ties to the army actually reported an incident over the Sea of ​​Azov.

“It will be another dark day for the Russian Aerospace Forces and Air Defense,” wrote Rybar, a blogger with nearly 1.2 million subscribers who supports and provides ongoing commentary on Russia’s war in Ukraine.

“There aren’t many A-50s. And the specialists who serve them are usually rare. If an aircraft of this type is hit, the crew cannot escape.”

The Telegram channel WarGonzo admitted that the A-50 had been destroyed.

“Unfortunately, war is never without tragedy, and the deaths of our fighters always hurt. “We express our condolences to the families and relatives of the crew,” it said.

It was also reported there that the Il-22 had managed to return to the base.

“According to reports, the pilots were able to land the damaged aircraft,” it said.

A drone strike in February 2023 at an airfield in Belarus damaged a parked A-50, but Russian and Belarusian officials described the damage as minor.