Ukraine downs two Russian military command and reconnaissance planes in huge blow for Putin

Ukraine said on Monday that it downed two Russian military command aircraft over the Sea of Asov, saying it had carried out a 'successful' mission against Moscow's forces. A top Ukrainian commander shared a video of the A-50 slowly coming down to earth, with a caption that read: 'This is exactly what the last flight into the zone of no return looked like' The A-50 is worth around £260 million The IL-22 is used as a aerial command aircraft by the Russian military Ukraine's commander-in-chief, Valery Zaluzhny, said Kyiv had 'destroyed' the planes. 'Warriors of the Air Force of the Ukrainian Armed Forces destroyed an enemy long-range radar detection aircraft A-50 and an enemy air control centre Il-22,' said the Zaluzhnyi Telegram channel. PS No details yet,' wrote Ukrainian Air Force Commander General Mykola Oleshchuk A mortar platoon soldier with an 82mm mortar performs a combat mission as Ukrainian soldiers hold their positions in the snow-covered Serebryan Forest in Ukraine Ukraine's Azov National Guard Brigade has returned to the front and has engaged in combat in the ongoing war with Russia Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022 The Il-22M command and control plane limped back to Anapa, a small Russian town on the Black Sea, on fire after being hit, with a number of casualties, Ukrainian media reported.