Ukraine's destruction of £235m Russian aircraft likely to affect long-term mission, MOD says

Ukraine has hit two Russian aircraft, reportedly causing one of their enemy's most valuable military planes to explode and crash into the sea, while the other was forced to make an emergency landing.

According to the UK Ministry of Defence, a Russian Beriev A-50 Mainstay and an Ilyushin Il-22M Coot B were hit.

It is thought that the A-50 crashed into the western sea of Azov, while the other was able to land.

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The shooting down of the A-50 was first claimed by Ukrainian military commander Valeriy Zaluzhnyi on the Telegram app.

"The possible successful targeting of an A-50 Mainstay by Ukraine is significant," said the MOD in its latest intelligence update.

"On 14 January 2024, a Russian A-50 Mainstay, an Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft, almost certainly exploded and subsequently crashed into the western Sea of Azov.

"Concurrently, a Russian Il-22M Coot B aircraft was reported damaged, but landed in a nearby Russian airfield.

"As of 15 January 2024, Ukrainian commander-in-chief General Valery Zaluzhnyi claimed responsibility for the loss of the A-50 and damage to the Coot B."

The MOD believes the destruction of the A-50 could force Russia to reconsider limiting the operational areas of its aircraft.

There are thought to be eight A-50 aircraft in the Russian air force and the A-50 is critical to the Russian air surveillance picture over the battlefield.

The increased stress on the remaining airframes coupled with the loss of the crew will likely affect A-50 missions in the long term, the MOD update added.