These images show some of the UK’s Sea King helicopters with the British government pledging to provide Ukraine with some of them after training Ukrainian crews to fly them.
The footage shows a number of British Sea King helicopters in use, with one taking off from a British military vessel and five others seen flying along what appears to be the British coastline before landing at an airfield at an undisclosed location.
The footage was obtained from the Ministry of Defence of the United Kingdom on Saturday, 26th November, along with a statement saying: “The UK will provide the Ukrainian Armed Forces with Sea King helicopters as part of its continued support.
“The Royal Navy has delivered Sea King training to 10 crews of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, enhancing their search and rescue capabilities.”
The Sea King, originally an American helicopter, is also built in the United Kingdom under licence and is used by the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force.
It has seen action in the Falklands War, the Gulf War, the Bosnian War, the Iraq War and the Afghanistan War, and is most widely known as a search and rescue helicopter.
Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February in what the Kremlin is still calling a “special military operation”. Today marks the 278th day of the war.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February and 28th November, Russia had lost about 87,900 personnel, 2,908 tanks, 5,861 armoured combat vehicles, 1,899 artillery units, 395 multiple launch rocket systems, 209 air defence systems, 278 warplanes, 261 helicopters, 1,555 drones, 531 cruise missiles, 16 warships, 4,416 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 163 units of special equipment.
Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.
Petro Kotin, the head of Energoatom, the Ukrainian state nuclear power plant operator, has said that there are signs that the Russian forces could be preparing to abandon the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
Kotin said: “In recent weeks we are effectively receiving information that signs have appeared that they are possibly preparing to leave.”
He added: “One gets the impression they’re packing their bags and stealing everything they can.”
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that Russia is planning to launch fresh missile attacks.
Zelensky said on Sunday evening: “We understand that terrorists are preparing new strikes. We know that for sure. And as long as they have missiles, they won’t stop, unfortunately.”
Hundreds of Ukrainians have reportedly left the city of Kherson in southern Ukraine after Russian shelling intensified on Sunday.
Evacuations from the city began last week amid fears that there was a lack of electricity, water and heating.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is reportedly set to promise to maintain or increase military aid to Ukraine in 2023, according to an extract from a speech he is set to give today.
The Prime Minister will reportedly say: “We will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes. We will maintain or increase our military aid next year. And we will provide new support for air defence.”
The authorities in Ukraine are slowly restoring power across the country, but millions are still said to be doing without heat or electricity after Russia’s heaviest missile strikes so far in the war.
Zelensky said: “We have been restoring electricity generation and supply day after day.”
He added: “As of today, in most regions of the country, only stabilisation schedules of shutdowns are in effect.”
The Ministry of Defence of the United Kingdom has said that Russia is currently hitting Ukraine with ageing cruise missiles that have been stripped of their nuclear warheads because Russia’s stocks are so depleted.
The UK MoD added that the move by the Russian side was “unlikely to achieve reliable effects”.
