Video released by the Russian military purportedly show Russian attack helicopters taking out Ukrainian forces on the ground.
The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) said that the footage shows the “combat work of the crews of Ka-52 attack helicopters to destroy strongholds of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.”
The images, obtained from the MoD, show Ka-52 (a.k.a Kamov or Hamov) attack helicopters being prepped for combat before taking off from an undisclosed location. The heavily armed gunships can be seen sporting the now infamous letter ‘V’ daubed on them in white paint.
They can be seen flying through the sky before opening fire above a wooded area, presumably destroying unknown targets on the ground, as clouds of grey smoke rise into the sky from between the trees.
The footage shows the view from the helicopters’ targeting system and ordnance being fired. For a few seconds, a ground target appears to be visible before being fired upon as the footage ends.
The images were also carried by Russian state media.
The Russian MoD said that “air strikes were delivered by guided and unguided missile weapons.”
The MoD added: “Helicopter crews destroyed a tank, an armored personnel carrier and weapons at the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.”
We contacted Russian and Ukrainian officials for comment but had not received a reply at the time of writing.
Russian troops invaded Ukraine on February 24 in what the Kremlin is still calling a “special military operation.” June 6 marks the 103rd day of the war.
From February 24 to June 6, the total combat losses of Russian troops stand at around 31,250 personnel, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The Ukrainian military also claims that Russia has lost 1,386 tanks, 3,400 armored fighting vehicles, 690 artillery systems, 207 multiple launch rocket systems, 96 anti-aircraft systems, 211 warplanes, 176 helicopters, 2,395 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, 13 vessels, 551 unmanned aerial vehicles, 53 units of special equipment, and 125 cruise missiles.
The United Kingdom has announced that it is sending its long-range missiles to Ukraine for the first time.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned of more attacks in Ukraine if the West sends long-range weapons.
Russian missiles struck Kyiv on Sunday, June 5 in the first assault on the Ukrainian capital in weeks.
Ukraine is claiming that it has retaken half of the key eastern city of Sievierodonetsk, where fighting has been focused recently.
And the Ukrainian Armed Forces said earlier today that Russian forces are continuing their push towards the city of Sloviansk, near Sievierodonetsk.
Ukraine’s Armed Forces are “holding out” as Russian invaders attempt to seize the city of Sievierodonetsk in Luhansk region.
Serhiy Haidai, head of the Luhansk Regional Military Administration, said: “The Russians are storming Sievierodonetsk… Street fights are ongoing there. However, the Ukrainian Armed Forces are holding the defense. The head of state, who visited our advanced positions in the Luhansk region at night, was convinced of this.”
