Ukraine announced the destruction of two important Russian aircraft

The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Valery Zaluzhny, said that the Russian A-50 and Il-22 aircraft were successfully destroyed over the Sea of Azov .

The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Valery Zaluzhny, said that the Russian A-50 and Il-22 aircraft were successfully destroyed over the Sea of Azov.

It is noted that both planes were attacked on January 14 around 21:00.

"I thank the Air Force for the perfectly planned and executed operation ," Zalujny wrote on his Telegram channel.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday morning that he had no information about the fate of the military aircraft and that the matter should be referred to the Ministry of Defense.

The A-50 is a long-range radar detection and control aircraft with a massive radar array mounted on its back. It allows to identify long-range air, land and sea targets and control air battles. The aircraft is also used as a flying command post, which plays an important role in conducting aerial reconnaissance and coordinating military operations on the ground. Russia has not disclosed the number of such aircraft, but in the case of 2023, they are limited. Il-22, on the other hand, is a military transport aircraft, mainly used for transporting equipment and personnel.

The exact cost of the A-50 and Il-22 is unknown, as they are specialized military aircraft and the cost can vary dramatically depending on specific modifications, equipment and contract terms. However, it is estimated that the A-50 could cost anywhere from $100 million to $300 million or more.

As a military transport aircraft, the Il-22 can be cheaper than the A-50. Its price can vary from tens of millions of dollars to hundreds of millions of dollars.