Ukraine's military has successfully shot down two crucial Russian command planes, marking one of the most disastrous days for the Kremlin's air capabilities since the commencement of Vladimir Putin's full-scale invasion. The commander in chief of Ukraine's forces, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, confirmed that an A-50 long-range radar detection aircraft and an Il-22 control center plane were destroyed over the Sea of Azov at 9:10 pm local time on Sunday.
The A-50, responsible for detecting air defenses and coordinating targets for Russian jets, crashed immediately, resulting in the loss of its crew. The Il-22, significantly damaged, appears to have made an emergency landing at an airfield in Anapa, Russia.
The method used by Ukraine to target and shoot down the planes remains unclear. Speculation suggests the possible use of a Patriot anti-aircraft missile battery supplied by the US, although this would involve moving the system close to the frontline, risking detection. Russian officials claim to have "no information" on the incident, while pro-Kremlin bloggers raise theories of friendly fire or potential involvement of British SAS operatives using surface-to-air missiles.
Regardless of the cause, the event is a setback for Russia's aviation capabilities and a morale boost for Ukraine's armed forces. Russia's recent offensive in the east aimed at regaining the initiative, following Ukraine's unsuccessful counter-offensive last year. The incident challenges Russia's dominance in the Sea of Azov, where Ukrainian forces destroyed two Russian planes in what Zaluzhnyi termed "an excellently planned and conducted operation" in the southern part of the country.
Ukraine has systematically degraded Russian military infrastructure in Crimea, targeting radar stations and headquarters. The recent attack on the Sea of Azov suggests a new front in challenging Russia's control over key ports like Berdyansk and Mariupol. The UK's Ministry of Defence notes that the Kremlin has only six working A-50s, each costing $330 million to build.
Russia has faced several setbacks in recent weeks, including attacks on Su-24 and Su-25 jets, indicating challenges to its ageing Soviet-era air fleet. Ukrainian commentators celebrated the news on social media, with Illia Ponomarenko calling it "the biggest air kill of the war so far." Ukraine's air force hinted at more to come, posting a graphic of the two downed planes with the caption: "Who did this?"