Free Republic

Russians have blamed their own air defenses for the reported loss of an A-50 surveillance aircraft over the Sea of Azov. Pro-war Telegram channel Fighterbomber, which is believed to be affiliated with the Russian Air Force, published a lengthy post after Ukraine claimed to have downed an A-50 and damaged an Il-22M airborne command post on Sunday. The Rybar Telegram channel, which has links to Russia's Defense Ministry, also said the aircraft could have been struck by "friendly fire." -snip- The A-50 is a Soviet-era reconnaissance aircraft used to prepare strikes and prevent enemy attacks; the loss of such an...

Russia loses yet another fighter jet during a training exercise, as Ukraine strikes the Kerch bridge yet again. A Su-30 fighter jet crashed during a training flight on Saturday in Russia's Kaliningrad region, killing the two pilots on board, RIA news agency quoted the Defense Ministry as saying. "The Su-30 aircraft crashed in a deserted area. The flight was being carried out without ammunition. The crew of the aircraft died," the ministry said in a statement cited by RIA. It said the likely cause of the crash was a technical malfunction but gave no further information.