The Ukrainian military says it has destroyed three of Russia’s “deadliest and most advanced” helicopters in 30 minutes.
The incident occurred during the 11-month anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on January 24.
According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the three Russian Ka-52 attack helicopters were performing missions in the vicinity of Yevhenivka in Donetsk Oblast.
They were all destroyed by Ukrainian anti-aircraft missiles, the Ukrainian Air Force said on Twitter.
Apart from the Ka-52, Kyiv also reportedly shot down a Russian Su-25 twin-engine fighter aircraft in the vicinity of Bakhmut.
The Ka-52 Helicopter
Also known as the “Alligator,” the Ka-52 is an all-weather attack helicopter designed to neutralize armored and unarmored targets.
It can also act as a surveillance platform and an aerial command post for other attack choppers.
The $13-million single-seat helicopter features a high-performance battlefield management system that allows it to share data with other aircraft to coordinate attacks.
Russia’s fleet of Ka-52s deployed in Ukraine has significantly damaged Kyiv’s military assets.
A video recently showed an Alligator blowing up a Ukrainian defensive position near Donetsk Oblast.
The helicopter has also been credited for taking out a number of Ukrainian tanks and military vehicles.