In a covert operation targeting Russian President Vladimir Putin’s A-50 surveillance plane, Belarusian partisans and exiled opposition members claimed responsibility for causing damage to the military aircraft. The attack, executed by two operatives using drones, was strategically aimed at the AWACS Beriev A-50U aircraft stationed at the Machulishchy air base near Minsk.
The A-50 is a critical component of Russia’s airborne early warning system, designed for surveillance, command-and-control operations, and coordination of combat actions. It monitors enemy airspace, detects incoming aircraft, and directs combat operations.
BYPOL, a Belarusian anti-government organization, asserted that two explosions damaged the front and central parts of the A-50U aircraft, including its radar antenna. The group accused the Belarusian government of attempting to conceal the incident and called for an international investigation into the matter.
Franak Viacorka, a close adviser to Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, confirmed the success of the operation through a tweet, describing it as “the most successful diversion since the beginning of 2022.”
The wrecked aircraft, with registration RF-50608, had reportedly landed in Belarus on January 3 before being targeted in the alleged assault. It had completed a dozen sorties related to the conflict in Ukraine, utilizing its Shmel radar complex for precise targeting.
The A-50U is equipped to locate, track, and recognize aerial, ground, and naval targets, providing vital information to command centers and guiding fighter aircraft to their targets. Only six modernized A-50U aircraft are currently in service in Russia.
Details about the sabotage operation were not fully disclosed, but it was revealed that the partisans strategically chose the A-50U due to perceived lax security at the airfield. Azarov, a representative, explained that the attackers observed the aircraft was almost unguarded, allowing them to carry out the operation without significant resistance.
As the incident unfolds, it adds a new layer of complexity to the ongoing tensions in the region and raises questions about the security of military assets in the area. The call for an international investigation highlights the geopolitical ramifications of such covert operations in the context of the broader conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
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More garbage from the Express, the most rabid anti-Russian propaganda hate speech in the UK.