So much was posted I felt I had to get it out here
Some further information on the A-50 brought down over Krasnodar Krai, in Russia just east of the Sea of Azov was 120 miles from the front line at the time of its destruction.

That’s 30 miles farther than a Patriot normally travels, prompting speculation—and some unconfirmed reporting—that the Ukrainian air force has begun firing, in the surface-to-air role, old Cold War S-200 missiles that range as far as 160 miles.

Videos on social media showed the aircraft flying low and firing flares. At one point, a larger explosion is seen several meters behind the supposed aircraft (or behind the trajectory/heading of the columns of flares being released). This can be inferred to be a moment where the unidentified air defense missile hits one such flare.

Flares are used to divert incoming anti-air missiles by producing a larger heat signature than that of the aircraft for their infrared (IR) seekers to lock on to. Shortly after, a larger explosion produces a big fireball, indicating the plane has been hit. The inferno continues descending, leaving behind a trail of uneven fire, suggesting it is the burning debris of the A-50U.

This clarifies that the aircraft was flying at a low altitude, around 1,000 feet, and had detected the missile and was undertaking evasive maneuvers.

1000 feet =
0.189 miles, which is less than a quarter-mile.

In any event, the Russians are down to possibly seven surviving A-50M/Us with digital systems plus a single next-generation A-100 early-warning plane.

There are additional, 1980s-vintage A-50s—with strictly mechanical systems—in storage, but it’s unclear whether these are capable of safe flight, to say nothing of being combat-capable.

Various sources.
🇺🇦@ukraine_report🇺🇦🔱Liz