Ukrainian forces reportedly down Russian A‑50 aircraft, ten crew members discovered dead
11:21 AM EST, February 24, 2024
The remains of ten individuals were discovered at the crash site of the Russian A-50 early warning aircraft, which had been shot down by Ukrainian air forces according to an independent Russian telegram channel, WCzK-OGPU, on Saturday. Official sources have been reticent to confirm details about the casualties.
"WCzK-OGPU has learned that the remains of ten crew members were discovered at the wreckage site of the reconnaissance aircraft A-50 in the Krasnodar Territory," the channel reported.
The Russian military officially admitted the crash on Friday evening.
The incident took place in the Kanevsky district within the Krasnodar Territory. The Russians have yet to provide information on the casualties. They have only made requests to refrain from publishing images and videos from the crash. "We urge you not to publish images and videos from the scene in the Kanevsky region on the internet. Please only trust official sources of information," read a message from the Russian agency, Tass.
On Friday evening, the head of the Ukrainian air forces, General Mykola Olekschuk, also confirmed the downing of the Russian A-50 aircraft, intended for long-range radar detection.
Olekschuk proposed that the operation was executed in conjunction with the Ukrainian military intelligence (HUR).
Previous reports of the A-50 being shot down emerged in mid-January from the Ukrainians. That plane subsequently fell into the Sea of Azov. Russia, however, has not conceded to losing the aircraft.
The Russian air force now reportedly possesses fewer than ten early warning A-50 aircraft, according to Donbas.Realii, a Ukrainian website.
Source: PAP, Tass
