"Stinger" at the exit from the attack, an explosion in the air and ... That's it. "Russian public discuss the death of the pilot-general

C News Russian Service ^ | 24-MAY-2022 | C News Russian Service

[SpeedyInTexas]

In the sky over Ukraine, retired Major General of the Russian Air Force Kanamat Botashev was shot down and killed. Information about the death of the pilot was confirmed to the BBC by three former subordinates of Botashev, who kept in touch with him after the end of the service. They requested anonymity for personal security reasons.

Botashev is the highest-ranking pilot whose death became known . Prior to his retirement, he was the commander of an aviation regiment. The participation of such a high-ranking officer in air battles can speak both of how difficult tasks Moscow sets for military pilots, and of the lack of highly qualified specialists.

On Sunday, May 22, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine announced that a Russian Su-25 attack aircraft was shot down in the sky over the Luhansk region. The pilot did not have time to eject, the report said.

[SpeedyInTexas]

Another one bites the dust Another one bites the dust And another one gone and another one gone Another one bites the dust Hey I'm gonna get you too Another one bites the dust

[Lurker]

Another un-dead General for the list.

L

[SpeedyInTexas]

“Machine guns ready to go
Are you ready hey are you ready for this?
Are you hanging on the edge of your seat?
Out of the doorway the bullets rip
To the sound of the beat yeah”

[Yo-Yo]

So a retired Maj. General was recalled to active duty just to pilot an Su-25 ground attack aircraft?

Somehow I think there would have been better candidates to reactivate than a Maj. General.

Like some "Up-or-Out" Captains, for example. (If up-or-out is even a thing in the Russian Air Force.)

[Don Corleone]

retired Major General of the Russian Air Force Kanamat Botashev was shot down and killed.

He wasn't really retired then but he is now.

[tlozo]

retired Major General of the Russian Air Force Kanamat Botashev was shot down and killed

[Yo-Yo]

Another one bites the dust Another one bites the dust And another one gone and another one gone Another one bites the dust Hey I'm gonna get you too Another one bites the dust

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZkouut-9RQ

[SpeedyInTexas]

И еще один кусает пыль
И еще один кусает пыль

[marktwain]

How can this be?

We are repeatedly told Russia has air superiority in all of Ukraine, that it can destroy anything in Ukraine, anytime it wishes.

It that were true, it seems very unlikely this could take place.

[Sequoyah101]

It was the hat that killed him. Got caught in the slipstream and broke his neck.

Those hats have always impressed me as outrageous.

[Qui is]

The article says he was a “Sniper Pilot” which is a title given to “expert” pilots and requires 10-12 years to obtain.

I’m not an authority on the subject, but suspect it might be the equivalent of a US Navy “Top Gun” graduate.

[DesertRhino]

The truth is that nobody controls the sky there. Neither side can fly in relative safety. Uke planes are nowhere to be seen either.
Russians are in danger from stingers down low, and larger systems if they go high. Ukes or NATO cannot operate anywhere in Ukraine safe from S-300s and S-400s. The whole nation is covered.

[17th Miss Regt]

I read somewhere that he may have hired on to the Wagner group as a pilot. The Russians gave him a Frogfoot (which he had previously flown) and he flew missions for them. Augmenting his retirement pay.

[NorseViking]

For what I know he was discharged in 2012 for bad conduct. The story is another fantasy.

[Fido969]

Retired?

[DesertRhino]

Tragic if true.

[marktwain]

The truth is that nobody controls the sky there. Neither side can fly in relative safety. Uke planes are nowhere to be seen either.

That sounds close to truth.

[Yo-Yo]

I read somewhere that he may have hired on to the Wagner group as a pilot.

That makes more sense. Thanks.

[Lurker]

So he’s not dead?

L