Russia admits that Ukraine shot down A-50 aircraft in February 2024

According to Russia, the committee chose a "preventive measure" against Ukrainian Colonel Mykola Dzyaman. It was he who allegedly ordered the destruction of the Russian A-50 aircraft.

According to the Russians, the A-50 was allegedly not intended for combat operations and was not armed. The A-50 was flying in the airspace of the Russian Federation.

Dzyaman allegedly gave an "illegal order" to shoot down the plane, which, according to the Russian Investigative Committee, killed 10 crew members. The Ukrainian was charged in absentia with the terrorist attack and put on the federal wanted list.

The A-50 is a long-range radar detection and control aircraft that Russia uses to direct attacks by its strike aircraft and to detect Ukrainian aircraft in the sky.

Destruction of the Russian A-50

On February 23 this year, the Ukrainian military shot down a Russian A-50 aircraft over the Sea of Azov. At the time, a number of videos of the downing began to circulate online, and RBC-Ukraine's sources said that it was a joint operation of the Air Force and the Defense intelligence.

In addition, on January 14 of the same year, the Ukrainian Armed Forces shot down a Russian A-50 over the Sea of Azov and hit an IL-22. On January 15, the destruction of the two planes was officially confirmed by the former Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Valerii Zaluzhnyi.

Elimination of the A-50 in Belarus

The A-50 was damaged for the first time on February 26, 2023, at the Machulishchi airfield, where explosions were heard. Later, it was reported that the airfield had been attacked, targeting a Russian A-50 reconnaissance aircraft.