Ukraine says it shot down Russian undercover agent aircraft – BBC Information

15 January 2024, 11:18 GMTUpdated quarter-hour agoImage caption, An A-50 airplane right through an army parade (record picture)Ukraine’s army says it has shot down a Russian army undercover agent aircraft over the Sea of Azov, in what analysts say could be a blow to Moscow’s air energy.Military leader Gen Valerii Zaluzhnyi stated the air pressure had “destroyed” an A-50 lengthy fluctuate radar detection airplane, and an Il-22 regulate centre aircraft. The A-50 detects air defences and coordinates objectives for Russian jets. Ukraine has struggled to make vital fresh advances in opposition to Russian forces within the south-east.A briefing from the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence on 23 February stated that Russia “most likely” had six operational A-50s in provider. The planes can price loads of tens of millions of bucks to construct. The BBC has been not able to ensure the assault. Russian officers stated they’d “no knowledge” in regards to the assaults, however distinguished pro-war Russian commentators have stated the lack of an A-50 could be vital. One standard army channel, Rybar, stated that – if Ukraine’s details about the Russian losses used to be showed – it will be “some other black day for the Russian air pressure”. Any other channel stated the Il-22 command centre used to be hit by means of Russian “pleasant fireplace”. It reportedly controlled to land again in Russia.Ukrainian Air Drive spokesman Yuri Ihnat claimed that the Il-22 have been broken past restore.A picture that emerged on social media confirmed what seems to be an Il-22 with visual harm to its tail. There don’t seem to be many main points visual within the image, making impartial research tricky. However BBC Test when compared main points in it to present footage from the world and located {that a} fireplace engine pictured used to be similar to the varieties of automobile utilized in Krasnodar area, and a blue development within the background used to be very similar to that on the airport at Anapa, a the city at the area’s Black Coastline. Alternatively, Mr Ihnat stated the A-50 undercover agent aircraft used to be “the concern goal for us”.Gen Zaluzhnyi stated on Telegram that Ukraine’s air pressure had “excellently deliberate and carried out” an operation within the Azov area, south-east of Ukraine. Justin Bronk, an air battle specialist from the defence suppose tank Rusi, informed the BBC that, if showed, the lack of an A-50 could be a “extremely operationally vital and embarrassing loss” for Russia’s air pressure. He described the A-50 as a “key command, regulate and surveillance platform” that gives Russian airplane and surface-to-air missile techniques with “lengthy fluctuate early caution and goal details about Ukrainian low-flying airplane”. He added that there have been “just a small quantity” of those airplane inside the Russian air pressure, and “even fewer educated venture crews, which means that the lack of one could be a big blow”. If showed, he stated it will “be an excessively long-range engagement” for Ukrainian Patriot air defence missiles, which might stretch “the theoretical functions of the weapon to their restrict”.Frank Gardner, the BBC’s safety correspondent, stated the plain construction used to be a “small bit of fine information for Ukraine amid an terrible lot of dangerous information”. He stated the placement usually is “no longer taking a look just right for Ukraine”, because it offers with shortages of ammunition, low morale amongst its troops and endured assaults by means of Russia on its infrastructure.Olga Robinson and Benedict Garman additionally contributed to this text

Author: OpenAI