For the second time in a month, the Ukrainian military has shot down a Russian military surveillance plane was shot down.
Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk declared on the messaging app Telegram that "the A-50, known as 'Bayan,' has taken its final flight", highlighting Ukraine-defined attitude in fighting advanced aerial threats.
According to military sources quoted by the Interfax Ukraine news agency, the Russian aircraft was destroyed over Russian territory, particularly in the area between Rostov-on-Don and Krasnodar.
This well-planned and coordinated operation between the intelligence directorate and the air force highlights the aerial warfare capability of Ukraine against the modern and sophisticated weaponry of Russia.
The event was reported by Russian news sources, which cited emergency services in the southern Krasnodar area. The wrecked aircraft's remnants were found in the Kanevskoy district's fields, and firemen had to act quickly in order to put out the following fire.
The lack of a clear mention of the A-50 in the official report raised concerns about the incident's openness.
The incident comes after the previous claims of Ukraine that they successfully shot down an Ilyushin Il-22 airborne command post and a Russian Beriev A-50 observation jet in the Sea of Azov. The continuing targeting of A-50 aircraft a major aerial early warning and control aircraft that can search an area that extends hundreds of kilometers for hostile ships, planes, and missiles.
The chief of the Ukrainian military agency directorate Kyrylo Budanov, had previously disclosed the Financial Times that eight A-50s were in Russia's possession one month before.
