Putin’s £274million spy plane destroyed by drones at Russian air base in Belarus in sabotage attack

ONE of Vladimir Putin’s advanced spy planes has been blown up by two drones at a Russian air base in Belarus, say reports. Belarussian partisans who oppose the war in Ukraine claimed responsibility for destroying the £274million Beriev A-50U surveillance jet near Minsk. ReutersThe Beriev A-50U is Russia’s most advanced spy plane[/caption] ReutersRussia had only six Beriev A-50 early warning aircraft in its fleet[/caption] The distinctive plane carries a fibreglass dome more than 33ft in diameter housing the rotating antenna of the Shmel radar complex. The military spy plane was “significantly damaged”, according to the Belarusian Hajun project. The “front and central parts of the aircraft, its avionics and radar antennae” were hit. Several huge explosions were earlier reported at the Machulishchi military base. The A-50U long-range radar detection and control aircraft has been used to pinpoint bombing targets inside Ukraine for Putin’s air force. The A-50U is “actively employed” by Putin’s war machine for “accomplishing missions in the special operation”, a defence industry source earlier told Tass. A Russian military transport aircraft and snow-clearing vehicles were also damaged in the audacious strike. Belarus security forces reportedly found a bag with drone control equipment near the site of the operation. Neither the Russian nor Belarussian defence ministries commented on the explosions. Major searches were underway by police and security services close to Machulishchi in Minsk region, according to reports. Aliaksandr Azarov, head of BYPOL Association of Belarus partisans, told Belsat: “These were drones. “The participants of the operation were Belorussians, taking part in the ‘Peramoga’ [Belarus for Victory) plan. “They are now safe outside the country. “They have all gone. “[The Belarus security services] may keep looking for them but they will have the same luck as searching for wind in a field.” A local resident said: “Half of Machulishchi is cordoned off. “Lots of soldiers everywhere. We saw five military vehicles with machine guns. They are stopping all cars and minibuses there, checking bags and car boots.” BYPOL said the plane was badly damaged and “definitely won’t fly anywhere”. The destroyed spy plane reportedly carried the registration number RF-50608. It arrived in Belarus on January 3 and had made a dozen sorties linked to the war in Ukraine. Russia has only six such modernised A-50U aircraft, each of which has a crew of 19. It can track 60 targets simultaneously. Machulishchi is used by Putin’s MiG-31K fighter jets – which carry hypersonic Kinzhal missiles – for attacks on Ukraine. The MiGs are often accompanied by the A-50U during operations. The A-50U is designed to detect, track and identify aerial, large ground and naval targets, transmit relevant data to command posts, and direct fighter jets to aerial targets. Belarus exiled opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya said: “I am proud of all Belarusians who continue to resist the Russian hybrid occupation of Belarus & fight for the freedom of Ukraine.” AlamyAn A-50 flanked by four Su-27 fighters during a Victory Day parade in Moscow[/caption]