WAR IN UKRAINE: Russian Attack Helicopter Destroys Ukrainian Armoured Vehicles And Military Infrastructure

Story By:  Ana MarjanovicSub-EditorMichael Leidig, Agency:  Newsflash

These images purport to show a Russian attack helicopter destroying Ukrainian armoured vehicles and military infrastructure.

The images show an attack helicopter being prepared for combat before it takes off from an undisclosed location and heads towards unseen targets, flying low over fields and forests.

It is unclear where exactly in Ukraine the images were filmed, but the attack helicopter said to be a Mi-35, can be seen opening fire before the footage ends.

Combat work of crews of Mi-35 multipurpose attack helicopters in June 2022. Note: (Ministry of Defense of Russia/Newsflash)

The footage was obtained from the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD), which said: “The helicopter crews of the army aviation of the Western Military District, in the course of a special military operation, continue to carry out the tasks of destroying armoured vehicles and military infrastructure of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, escorting military columns, delivering troops, military cargo, air support for units performing tasks as part of a special operation.”

The Russian MoD added: “All flights take place at extremely low altitudes.”

The Russian MoD also said: “As a result of regular combat missions, strongholds of command and armoured vehicles of units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were destroyed.”

Combat work of crews of Mi-35 multipurpose attack helicopters in June 2022. Note: (Ministry of Defense of Russia/Newsflash)

The Mil Mi-24 is a large, multipurpose gunship that can be used as an attack helicopter and as a troop transport vehicle.

Russian troops invaded Ukraine on 24th February in what the Kremlin is still calling a “special military operation”. Today marks the 104th day of the campaign.

From 24th February to 7th June, the total combat losses of Russian troops stand at around 31,360 personnel, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Combat work of crews of Mi-35 multipurpose attack helicopters in June 2022. Note: (Ministry of Defense of Russia/Newsflash)

The Ukrainian military also claims that Russia has lost 1,390 tanks, 3,416 armoured fighting vehicles, 694 artillery systems, 207 multiple launch rocket systems, 96 anti-aircraft warfare systems, 212 aircrafts, 177 helicopters, 2,405 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, 13 naval vessels, 553 unmanned aerial vehicles, 53 special equipment units, and 125 cruise missiles.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Centre for Strategic Communications (StratCom) said on 6th June that Russian Major General Roman Kutuzov was killed in a battle near Popasna in the Luhansk region. This has now been confirmed by Russian state media.

The United Kingdom and the United States have announced that they are sending long-range missile systems to Ukraine.

Combat work of crews of Mi-35 multipurpose attack helicopters in June 2022. Note: (Ministry of Defense of Russia/Newsflash)

Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned of more attacks in Ukraine if the West sends long-range weapons.

Russian missiles struck Kyiv on Sunday in the first assault on the Ukrainian capital in weeks.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that Russian attacks on the cities of Severodonetsk and Lysychansk has turned them into “dead cities”. But he added that Ukrainian forces could still hold Severodonetsk despite being outnumbered.

Combat work of crews of Mi-35 multipurpose attack helicopters in June 2022. Note: (Ministry of Defense of Russia/Newsflash)

Russia’s ambassador to the United Nations, Vassily Nebenzia, has walked out of a Security Council meeting after his country was blamed by European Council president Charles Michel for triggering a global food crisis.