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Russia Denies Shooting Down Own Planes in Georgia War
MOSCOW - The Russian military has denied a report that it shot down three of its own planes during Russia's war last August with Georgia, newspapers reported July 10.
Specialist newsletter Moscow Defence Brief reported this week that Russia had lost six fighter jets in the war - two more than admitted by the defence ministry - and that half of these had been shot down by friendly fire.
"The Russian side has already published full information about the losses of Russia's armed forces. These figures are complete and there is nothing to add to them," said Anatoly Nogovitsyn, deputy chief of Russia's General Staff. Claims that "Russian military planes were shot down by their own air defenses in no way corresponds to reality," he said, according to the Kommersant daily.
Moscow Defence Brief said that Russia lost six fighter jets, including three Su-25 ground attack jets, two Su-24 frontline bombers and one Tu-22M3 long range bomber. The Russian defence ministry has only ever acknowledged the loss of three Su-25 ground attack jets and Tu-22M3 long range bomber.
The newsletter said that two Su-25 jets and one Su-24 bomber were shot down by Russia's own air defense systems and not by Georgian fire. Georgia claimed to have downed 21 Russian aircraft in the war, Kommersant said.
If proven, the report would be a huge embarrassment for the Russian armed forces, which are on the verge of a major reform to make them more efficient for the demands of modern warfare.
MOSCOW - The Russian military has denied a report that it shot down three of its own planes during Russia's war last August with Georgia, newspapers reported July 10.
Specialist newsletter Moscow Defence Brief reported this week that Russia had lost six fighter jets in the war - two more than admitted by the defence ministry - and that half of these had been shot down by friendly fire.
"The Russian side has already published full information about the losses of Russia's armed forces. These figures are complete and there is nothing to add to them," said Anatoly Nogovitsyn, deputy chief of Russia's General Staff. Claims that "Russian military planes were shot down by their own air defenses in no way corresponds to reality," he said, according to the Kommersant daily.
Moscow Defence Brief said that Russia lost six fighter jets, including three Su-25 ground attack jets, two Su-24 frontline bombers and one Tu-22M3 long range bomber. The Russian defence ministry has only ever acknowledged the loss of three Su-25 ground attack jets and Tu-22M3 long range bomber.
The newsletter said that two Su-25 jets and one Su-24 bomber were shot down by Russia's own air defense systems and not by Georgian fire. Georgia claimed to have downed 21 Russian aircraft in the war, Kommersant said.
If proven, the report would be a huge embarrassment for the Russian armed forces, which are on the verge of a major reform to make them more efficient for the demands of modern warfare.
