Russiaʼs Investigative Committee admitted that Ukraine shot down their A-50 long-range radar detection and control aircraft on February 23, 2024.
This was reported by the Russian Investigative Committee.
The committee chose a "precautionary measure" against Ukrainian colonel Mykola Dzyaman, who allegedly gave the order to destroy the Russian A-50 aircraft.
The Russian investigation noted that the A-50 plane was apparently not intended for combat operations, had no weapons, and the flight was in the airspace of the Russian Federation. While Dzyaman gave an "illegal order", which, according to the Russian Investigative Committee, killed 10 crew members.
Mykola Dziaman was charged in absentia with a terrorist attack and declared a federal wanted man.
The A-50 is a Russian long-range radar detection and control aircraft, thanks to which Russia directs the attacks of its strike aircraft and detects Ukrainian aircraft in the sky.
- This year, on February 23, the commander of the Air Force of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Mykola Oleschuk, announced that Ukrainian fighters had already destroyed the second Russian A-50 aircraft, and in general, this was the third loss of this aircraft by Russia. Before that, a similar A-50 was disabled by Belarusian partisans at the Machulyshchi air base in February 2023, and on January 14, 2024, the Air Force shot down the A-50 and Il-22 aircraft.