Ukrainian Drones Strike Second Russian Helicopter in 10 Days

Ukrainian drones have struck a second Russian helicopter in just ten days, according to European media.

Eastern European newspaper Strana, which covers the conflict in Ukraine, posted the video footage on Telegram, which shows a Ukrainian drone flying into a Russian helicopter flying low over land.

The report said that local Ukrainian media had confirmed that the Russian helicopter had been hit in the air using a First Person VIew (FPV) drone, which have seen increasing use on the Ukrainian side in recent months.

The reports come after a similar drone attack on Russian air vehicles were released on Tuesday, which showed similar tactics being used. In both videos, the FPV drones fly directly into the helicopters with the aim of destroying vital mechanism and downing the vehicle.

The drones have been typically aiming for the helicopters' rear motors, which are the most vulnerable part of the vehicle.

Ukraine's Kursk raid has put additional pressure on Russia's military infrastructure, with two more helicopters being destroyed by the start of the counterattack, along with two tanks.

Sources in the Ukrainian military suggested Russia lost a Ka-52 helicopter, an Mi-28 helicopter and two tanks in the Kursk region after Ukraine launched its cross-border attack on Tuesday. Like with the strikes today, Ukrainian media said that the Kursk helicopters were attacked using FPV drones.

Ukrainian forces are reported to have occupied at least 11 settlements and the Sudzha gas measuring facility, which manages the flow of Russian gas into Europe. By the day after the raid was launched, Russia had lost full control of around 350 square kilometers.

Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said that the incursion would serve to boost Kyiv's position in any potential future negotiations with Russia.

According to some estimates, Russia has lost more than $60 billion in equipment since the start of the war in Ukraine in 2022. Ukraine's military has said that Russia has lost 357 aircraft along with another 326 helicopters.

Putin previously described Russia's losses in the conflict as "irretreivable," though he maintained that Ukraine's losses were far worse.

"I can tell you that our losses, particularly irretrievable losses, are certainly significantly smaller than those of the opposite party," the president said, according to the state-run Tass news agency.

Newsweek has contacted Russia's Defense Ministry for clarification on damaged equipment.

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