Ukraine's Air Force spokesman says damaged Russian Il-22 is beyond repair – photo
A Russian Il-22 command aircraft probably survived a Ukrainian attack but is beyond repair, Ukraine's Air Force reports.
Source: Colonel Yurii Ihnat, spokesman for Ukraine's Air Force, on Facebook
Quote: "It looks like the Il-22 made it to Anapa. Tenacious bastard.
But as you can see, this tin can is beyond repair. So whichever way you slice it, the target is destroyed; resuscitation won’t help! The plane was on fire; some of the crew were wounded, I hope there were Cargo 200s [fatalities] too!"
Details: Colonel Ihnat illustrated his post with a photo that had previously appeared on social media.
Ihnat explained that the A-50 airborne early warning and control system (AWACS) aircraft was the priority target for Ukraine's Armed Forces, and until now, destroying one of these aircraft had seemed like an impossible task for the Air Force. But on the night of 14-15 January, the Defence Forces managed to hit an A-50 and an Il-22 (airborne command post) as well.
"Two juicy targets at once! I am proud to serve in the Air Force of Ukraine’s Armed Forces!" Ihnat added.
Background:
- Reports of the downing of a Russian A-50 reconnaissance aircraft and damage to an Il-22M appeared on Russian and Ukrainian Telegram channels on the evening of 14 January. They were partially confirmed this morning by Lieutenant General Mykola Oleshchuk, Commander of the Ukrainian Air Force, and Ukrainska Pravda’s sources in the Ukrainian government.
- On the morning of 15 January, General Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, confirmed that the Ukrainian Air Force had downed two important Russian planes: an airborne early warning system (AWACS) aircraft and an airborne command post.
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