Damage to A-50 aircraft at Machulishchy airfield reduces Russia's ability to attack Ukrainian territory - military analyst Hetman

He said this on Espreso TV. 

The reserve major of Ukraine's National Guard commented on the damage to the Russian A-50 reconnaissance aircraft as a result of the February 26 explosions at the Belarusian Machulishchy military airfield. 

“Perhaps not everyone has seen the A-50 aircraft, which seems to have a flying saucer attached to the top of its leg, which is a long-range surveillance radar. This aircraft monitors the airspace and tracks electromagnetic wave radiation on the ground. That is, on the one hand, it is a reconnaissance aircraft that does not enter the area of impact of our air defense, but flies along and calculates the location of our radars, which emit electromagnetic waves when they start working,” the military analyst explained.

Oleksii Hetman added that the A-50 can also correct the flight of missiles and aircraft, it can see, for example, when our planes are taking off and can give information to enemy aircraft so that they can fly out to intercept them.

“This means that this aircraft is a rather serious weapon. The A-50 radar is used both to guide cruise missile aircraft and for reconnaissance. And the fact that the reconnaissance aircraft's radar has now 'suddenly broken down' does not mean that we have blinded the eyes of enemy cruise missiles, but we have seriously damaged the ability to attack our territories. It is very good that this plane broke down: it will be more difficult for the enemy and easier for us,” summarized Hetman.

• On the morning of February 26, two explosions occurred at the Machulishchy military airfield near Minsk, a Russian DRLO A-50 military reconnaissance aircraft and snow removal equipment were damaged