As a result of explosions at the Machulishchi military airfield near Minsk, an A-50 early warning and control aircraft was damaged, according to the organization of former Belarusian security officials BYPOL, citing its own sources.
According to BYPOL, as a result of two explosions, the front and central parts of the aircraft were damaged, avionics and a radar antenna were damaged. It is alleged that the damage is serious and the A-50 will no longer be able to fly.
Motolko.Help writes that a Russian AWACS aircraft A-50U with registration number RF-50608 was damaged as a result of the explosions. The plane arrived in Belarus on January 3 and has made 12 flights since then. The same plane flew to Belarus on February 24, 2022.
As BYPOL previously reported, two explosions occurred at the Machulishchi airfield on the morning of February 26.
According to the ACT Center, in total, the Russian Aerospace Forces are armed with seven modernized A-50U aircraft. All combat aircraft of the A-50 series are part of the aviation unit stationed at the Ivanovo-Severny airfield.