These images purport to show Russian Mi-28N helicopters firing missiles at Ukrainian fortified positions in Donetsk.
The video apparently shows a Russian helicopter taking off from an undisclosed location and flying low over countryside before unleashing salvos of ordnance at unseen targets before returning to base.
The images were obtained from the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Wednesday, 6th December, along with a statement claiming: “The crews of Mi-28N helicopters of the army aviation of the VKS carried out a strike on enemy strongholds and manpower.”
The Russian MoD added: “Army aviation crews on Mi-28N helicopters, as part of a strike group, carried out an attack with unguided aircraft missiles on enemy strongholds and manpower in the Donetsk direction.
“During combat missions, army aviation pilots launched missiles at detected fortified points of Ukrainian Armed Forces units.
“As a result of combat use, all targets were destroyed.
“During the special military operation, army aviation carries out tasks of escorting convoys, destroying armoured vehicles, delivering troops, military cargo, and air support for units performing tasks within the special operation.
“Call sign ‘Siberia’ [said]: ‘We received a combat mission to support ground forces, went to the target area, hit an enemy stronghold with aircraft missiles from a pitched position and returned to the base area.'”
We have not been able to independently verify the claims or the footage.
Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February 2022 in what the Kremlin is still calling a “special military operation”. Today marks the 651st day of the full-scale war.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February 2022 and 6th December 2023, Russia had lost about 335,110 personnel, 5,600 tanks, 10,456 armoured combat vehicles, 8,024 artillery units, 919 multiple launch rocket systems, 605 air defence systems, 324 warplanes, 324 helicopters, 6,083 drones, 1,570 cruise missiles, 22 warships, 1 submarine, 10,532 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 1,153 units of special equipment.
Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky cancelled an address to US senators on Tuesday, with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announcing that Zelensky would not be able to attend the classified briefing because “something came up at the last minute”.
The move comes a day after the White House issued an urgent warning saying that Ukraine’s efforts to defend itself from Russia could grind to a halt without further US military assistance.
US President Joe Biden is urging Congress to approve billions of dollars to support Kyiv.
Schumer said that Zelensky had been invited to address senators so they “could hear directly from him precisely what’s at stake.”.
Schumer said on Monday: “If Ukraine falls, Putin will keep on going.”
He added: “Autocrats around the world will be emboldened. Democracy, this grand and noble experiment, will enter an era of decline.”
British Foreign Secretary David Cameron has told the House of Lords that there will be no reduction in UK military support for Ukraine in 2024.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is travelling to the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia today, Wednesday, on a rare international trip to discuss the Israel-Hamas war.
Russia has claimed that it downed dozens of Ukrainian drones on Tuesday, with the Russian Ministry of Defence saying that it had intercepted 41 UAVs launched by Ukraine.
Ukrainian authorities said they shot down 10 out of 17 Russian attack drones on Tuesday.
