As of: February 29, 2024, 12:00 p.m
By: Patrick Mayer
Comments
Press
Split
Russia is said to have lost several Su fighter jets and an A-50U reconnaissance aircraft within a few days.
One question remains unanswered in the Ukraine war.
Donbass - The war in Ukraine is currently not going very well for the brave Ukraine, which was attacked by Russia insidiously and in violation of international law almost exactly two years ago.
Russia's losses: Ukraine shoots down several Moscow planes
In the east and south of the battered country, the Russian invasion army of Kremlin autocrat Vladimir Putin is conquering a number of villages and in some cases making significant territorial gains, while Ukrainian artillerymen are desperately gathering their grenades and frantically sending the remaining battle tanks back and forth from the west of Kiev along the front sections become.
At the same time, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced bitter Ukrainian losses.
Nevertheless, the Ukrainians continue to report military successes, such as a HIMARS attack on a Russian training area that was devastating for Putin's troops.
The latest report: As of February 27th, the Ukrainian armed forces said they had shot down ten Russian military aircraft in ten days.
These were said to have included nine Sukhoi Su-34 and Sukhoi Su-35 fighter-bombers.
The information cannot be independently verified.
Russian losses: Allegedly shot down A-50U early warning reconnaissance aircraft
On Tuesday (February 27), the Ukrainian armed forces reported the shooting down of a Russian Su-34 fighter jet over the eastern front.
What caused a sensation on Friday (February 23) was the news that the Russian losses included a large A-50U early warning reconnaissance aircraft.
“Another valuable Russian A-50U aircraft was shot down over the Sea of Azov,” Ukrainian military intelligence said, releasing a map showing the suspected crash site in the south of the Russian Federation.
The shootdown was “another serious blow to the potential and capabilities of terrorist Moscow.”
According to a video circulating on X (formerly) Twitter, two military aircraft even crashed in this case - an A-50U and a Su-34.
This information cannot be independently verified either.
Russian reconnaissance aircraft: an A-50U.
© IMAGO / ITAR-TASS
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The fire brigade authorities in Krasnodar in southwest Russia reported a fire “of around 250 square meters”.
It was said that “two aircraft” were involved in the incident.
Ukrainian intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov said his intelligence service had been specifically preparing for two weeks to shoot down the Beriev A-50, which is based on the Ilyushin Il-76 transport plane.
He reiterated the use of Ukrainian weapons.
The 38-year-old secret service agent left it open which weapons.
“How the Ukrainians shoot down so many jets is unclear,” commented the American news magazine
Forbes
on the latest rate of shootings.
One possibility is that the Ukrainian Air Force has strategically deployed US-made Patriot anti-aircraft systems along the front lines - rather than exclusively around critical infrastructure in major cities.
Ukraine War: Is Russia replacing reconnaissance aircraft with drones?
This allows them to attack Russian fighter jets with PAC-2 missiles,
Forbes
analyzed .
One consequence: Moscow is trying to “replace its flying A-50 early warning and control aircraft with reconnaissance drones,” said Natalia Humenyuk, spokeswoman for the Ukrainian armed forces in the south.
Russia's losses over the Sea of Azov: What shot down Moscow's planes?
Meanwhile, Ukrainska
Pravda
reported that the A-50U reconnaissance aircraft was allegedly shot down with a Soviet S-200 long-range anti-aircraft missile.
The Beriev A-50, which can supposedly track 50 to 60 targets simultaneously with its radar, is said to be able to fly up to ten kilometers high.
An S-200 rocket can reach these heights.
The “Patriots” PAC-2 missiles can even attack targets at an altitude of 24 kilometers.
According to the Ukrainian military, the Kremlin has already lost two of the estimated $300 million A-50 spy planes since the beginning of 2024.
Kiev said its forces shot down an A-50 over the Sea of Azov in mid-January.
The Ukrainian coast on the Sea of Azov has been occupied by the Russians since spring 2022 between Mariupol, Berdyansk and Crimea.
Wherever the rocket was fired from remains unclear.
And so the guesswork surrounding Russian losses in the air continues.
(pm)