"Reportedly, the A-50 was shot down immediately after it was on duty in the vicinity of Kyrylivka around 21:10-21:15 on January 14. The A-50 disappeared from the radar and stopped responding to tactical aviation requests, and later a pilot of a Su-30 Russian Air Force aircraft detected the fire and crash of an unidentified aircraft. The Il-22M11 was on duty in the area of Strilkove and was eventually shot down along the coast of the Sea of Azov at around 9 p.m. on January 14. After being hit, the plane planned to land in Anapa, requested evacuation, an ambulance and a fire truck."https://twitter.com/NOELreports/status/1746644752424968400
Kyrylivka on Google Maps.
The information above would indicate confirmation through radio intercepts.