Defence Intelligence chief: Destruction of A-50 aircraft likely to affect Russians' ability to communicate
The destruction of a Russian A-50 airborne early warning and control system (AWACS) aircraft this morning is likely to affect Russia's ability to maintain communications in the conflict zone "around the clock".
Source: Kyrylo Budanov, Head of Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU), in a comment for Financial Times
Quote: "The A-50 was shot down and it exploded. The Il-22 was badly damaged but, unfortunately for us, it managed to make an emergency landing in Anapa [a Russian town on the Black Sea coast – FT]."
Details: According to Budanov, Russia has only eight A-50s in good condition. He added that the destruction of the aircraft is likely to affect Russia's ability to operate and communicate in the conflict zone "around the clock".
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.
- General Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, confirmed that the Ukrainian Air Force downed two key Russian aircraft on the morning of 15 January: an airborne early warning and control system (AWACS) aircraft and an airborne command post.
- Ukraine's Air Force reported that the Russian Il-22 airborne command post probably survived the attack but is beyond repair.
Support UP or become our patron!
