The prevailing Russian narrative is that these aircraft were damaged/shot down by friendly fire.
— Jimmy Rushton (@JimmySecUK) January 15, 2024
This makes little sense to me; this was not a fast jet flying low over the contact line - it was a large, slow aircraft flying a predictable flight plan well beyond the front line.
Russian SAR found where the Beriev A-50 has fallen. At Obitochnya kosa, Zaporozhye https://t.co/HO03yVfMLL
— Olga Honcharenko (@olga_pp98) January 15, 2024
A Russian channel suggests this is an A-50U (RF-50610), which was upgraded in 2019. Russia had 8 upgraded A-50U aircraft as of September and has been averaging upgrading one A-50 to the A-50U standard every two years.https://t.co/MELlB5wqeLhttps://t.co/zqswfOyNnq pic.twitter.com/8lnit6TIUx
— Rob Lee (@RALee85) January 15, 2024
Scoop: Lt. Gen. Kyrylo Budanov, commander of the Ukrainian Defense Intelligence Directorate, confirms to me that Ukraine shot at and destroyed the A-50 and damaged the Il-22M. He offered no further details. https://t.co/zvVwCPFPSE
— Howard Altman (@haltman) January 15, 2024
Russia would rather say it was friendly fire than admit it was Ukraine.
Bonus: Why Won't Ukraine Negotiate With Russia?!?!?!?!?!?!
This morning an electronic billboard on my way to work is displaying this Putin quote: “Russia’s borders do not end anywhere.” pic.twitter.com/K7q5wUPHWN
— Steve Rosenberg (@BBCSteveR) January 15, 2024
Essay Pro