Ukraine said it had destroyed a Russian Beriev A-50 spy plane and an Ilyushin Il-22 airborne command post in the Sea of Azov area, dealing a blow to Russian military operations in occupied southern Ukraine.
"Ukraine's Air Force destroyed an enemy A-50 long-range radar detection aircraft and an enemy IL-22 air control centre," army chief Valeriy Zaluzhnyi wrote on the Telegram messaging app.
"I am grateful to the Air Force for the perfectly planned and executed operation in the Azov Sea region!"
Reuters was unable to verify the statement independently. The Russian defence ministry did not immediately respond to a written request for comment.
The Ukrainian defence ministry valued the A-50 aircraft at $330m. Kyiv's statements did not say how the planes had been destroyed.
The A-50, which first came into service near the end of the Soviet era, is a large airborne early warning and control aircraft that can scan an area several hundred kilometres across for enemy aircraft, ships and missiles.
London-based think tank IISS said in a 2021 report that Russia had nine A-50 aircraft in operation, including four modernised A-50U planes.
The Russian defence ministry said early last year that the modernised A-50U had been carrying out missions during the war in Ukraine.
The aircraft, which goes by the NATO reporting name of Mainstay, can detect more than 300 targets simultaneously, it said.
It can detect and track a missile launch at a distance of 800kms (497 miles) and ground and sea targets at 300km.
Zelensky arrives in Switzerland for Davos forum
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he had arrived in Switzerland to participate in the World Economic Forum in Davos and meet Swiss officials.
"In Bern, I will hold talks with the heads of both chambers of the parliament, heads of the parties and factions, and President Viola Amherd," Mr Zelensky wrote on the Telegram app.
