Russia has said that it has hit Ukrainian positions near Avdiivka with rockets fired from Ka-52M attack helicopters.
The footage purports to show one of the Russian aircraft preparing for takeoff before the gunship takes to the skies.
It then flies low over the countryside before unleashing a barrage of rockets.
The helicopter then takes a base of action as it deploys flares before reportedly returning to base to land.
The images obtained from the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Tuesday, 23rd April, along with a statement claiming: “The crew of the Ka-52M helicopter of the Russian Aerospace Forces successfully hit units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Avdeevsky direction.”
The Russian MoD added: “The crew of the Ka-52M helicopter of the Russian Aerospace Forces carried out an attack with unguided aircraft missiles on enemy strongholds and manpower in the Avdiivka direction.
“After using aircraft weapons, the crew performed an anti-missile manoeuvre, released heat traps and returned to the departure airfield.”
Russia Says Ka-52M Helicopter Crews Hit Ukrainian Position
The statement quotes a navigator of one of its Ka-52M reconnaissance and attack helicopters they named as Denis as saying: “At the command post we received the task and flew to the target area. The flight was complicated by meteorological conditions.
“We arrived at the target area and fired from the nose up. According to the report of the forward aircraft gunner, enemy personnel were destroyed. After completing the task, we flew to the airfield and landed as normal.”
The Russian MoD said: “According to the reports of the forward aircraft gunner, all of the indicated targets were successfully hit. The flight went as usual.”
We have not been able to independently verify the claims or the footage.
