Ukraine reports shooting down of “valuable” Russian reconnaissance aircraft
Ukraine reports the shooting down of a Russian A-50U reconnaissance aircraft. Military intelligence speaks of “another serious blow” against the Moscow troops. There were also explosions at a Russian steelworks, possibly caused by a drone.
UAccording to intelligence reports, Ukrainian armed forces hit a Russian reconnaissance aircraft over the Sea of Azov. “Another valuable Russian A-50U aircraft was shot down over the Sea of Azov,” Ukrainian military intelligence said in an online service on Friday, publishing a map showing the suspected crash site in southern Russia. The shootdown was “another serious blow to the potential and capabilities of terrorist Moscow,” it said.
The news portal Ukrayinska Pravda reported, citing military intelligence sources, that a modernized Soviet S-200 anti-aircraft system was used. Russia had previously reported several times about Ukrainian attacks on ground targets using S-200 missiles.
The A-50 model is a Russian reconnaissance aircraft similar to the Awacs used by NATO. The A-50U, in turn, is a modernized version of the machine developed during the Soviet era. The information could not initially be independently verified. Videos on online services showed several flashes of light in a dark night sky and a fire in what appeared to be a rural area.
Authorities in Krasnodar, southwest Russia, said firefighters were battling a fire “of about 250 square meters” and that no houses were in danger. Accordingly, “two aircraft” are said to be involved in the incident – the authorities did not provide any further details.
Ukraine had already announced the shooting down of an A-50 aircraft in January – also over the Sea of Azov between Russia and Ukraine.
Explosions occurred overnight in the southern Russian city of Lipetsk. According to reports, a major fire broke out in a steel mill. The region’s governor, Igor Artamonov, initially reported on his Telegram channel about a fire in a factory hall. The fire has been extinguished and there is no risk of hazardous substances being released. The security services were therefore checking information about a drone attack.
Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Ministry in Moscow reported further Ukrainian drone attacks in the Kursk and Tula regions. Several unmanned missiles were intercepted and destroyed by air defense.