Latest news with #Ka-52
Newsweek
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Ukraine Destroys $16M Russian 'Alligator' Helicopter in Drone Strike
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A Russian attack helicopter was downed by a Ukrainian drone, according to Kyiv's military. Ukraine's Special Operations Forces said it had successfully targeted the Russian Ka-52 "Alligator" helicopter, worth an estimated $16 million, over Ukrainian territory, posting video of what it said showed the strike. Newsweek has been unable to verify the footage and has contacted the Russian Defense Ministry for comment. A Russian Kamov Ka-52 "Alligator" military attack helicopter is pictured at the Dubai Airshow on November 13, 2023. A Russian Kamov Ka-52 "Alligator" military attack helicopter is pictured at the Dubai Airshow on November 13, 2023. GIUSEPPE CACACE//Getty Images Why It Matters Ukraine has used drones to considerable effect on the front line, causing Russia to face high losses of troops and equipment. The strike on a Russian helicopter further demonstrates these capabilities. What To Know Ukraine's Special Operations Forces' Bombus Balista unit said it had conducted a successful strike on a Russian Ka-52 "Alligator" attack helicopter using an FPV (first person view) drone. A video posted on social media appears to show the drone targeting the helicopter as it is on combat patrol over Ukrainian territory. No date or specific location was given for the operation. The post described it as a calculated strike that added to the further attrition of Russian aerial assets. ❗️A Ukrainian FPV drone hit a Russian Ka-52 Alligator helicopter. The helicopter is worth about $16 million. Glory! — Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) May 16, 2025 In May 2024, Ukrainian forces shot down a Russian Ka-52 "Alligator" helicopter. On February 7 this year, another Ka-52 with its crew was taken down by a shoulder-launched MANPADS (Man Portable Air Defense System) near Avdiivka in the Donetsk region, according to Ukraine's United24 Media. Missiles and drones launched by Ukrainian Special Operations Forces have struck other high-value Russian military assets, according to reports, including a $45 million Russian Buk-M3 surface-to-air missile system in May and a rare Uragan multiple launch rocket system, United 24 Media reported. On Saturday, Ukrainian security service drones struck an ammunition depot used by Russia's 126th Coastal Defense Brigade in the southern Crimean Peninsula, causing a large explosion and fire, according to the Kyiv Independent citing an unnamed security official. The depot, located near a key highway between Simferopol and Alushta on the occupied peninsula, housed military equipment, ammunition and fuel storage facilities. What People Are Saying Ukraine's Special Operations Forces' Bombus Balista unit: "The Ka-52 attempted a combat patrol over Ukrainian fields, but did not anticipate the presence of our tactical drone group 'Bombus.'" What Happens Next President Volodymyr Zelensky announced in April that his country would step up production of long-range drones and ground-based robotic systems. Ukraine's drone campaign targeting Russian military facilities continues apace and following the strike on Crimea, Ukraine's Security Service told the Kyiv Independent "efforts to degrade (Russia's) military capabilities will continue."
The Guardian
25-03-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Ukraine war briefing: Belgorod strike ‘destroys four Russian helicopters'
Ukraine's special forces said on Monday they destroyed four military helicopters in Russia's Belgorod region with Himars rocket systems. The special operations command published drone footage and announced: 'Special operations forces in cooperation with the GUR of the ministry of defence, missile forces and artillery destroyed two enemy Ka-52 and two Mi-8 helicopters in the Belgorod region of the Russian Federation.' The strikes occurred at a concealed 'jumping-off point' for Russian aircraft used in surprise attacks on Ukrainian forces, the group said. Ukrainian forces have since 18 March been striking across the border into areas of Belgorod oblast including the village of Demidovka, according to Russian and Ukrainian war watchers. Some claimed Ukrainian troops had managed to seize a small amount of territory in Belgorod. Their reports could not be verified. A Russian missile attack hit a densely populated district including schools in Ukraine on Monday, wounding 88 people including 17 children, said officials in the city of Sumy. Many more children escaped injury as they had been evacuated to air raid shelters, said the regional governor, Volodymyr Artiukh. Ukraine's foreign minister, Adrii Sybiha, said: 'Instead of making hollow statements about peace, Russia must stop bombing our cities and end its war on civilians.' Sumy is just across the border from Kursk oblast where Ukrainian forces have been holding Russian territory since August 2024. As of Monday night no ceasefire partial or otherwise had been agreed between Russia and Ukraine despite Russian claims of the Ukrainians breaching one by attacking energy stations. After Donald Trump spoke with Vladimir Putin on 18 March, the Russian president was said to have ordered a halt to such attacks for 30 days. However, talks involving the US, Ukraine and Russia adjourned in Saudi Arabia on Monday with no ceasefire as yet signed. Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Sunday evening that 'since 11 March, a proposal for an unconditional ceasefire has been on the table, and these attacks could have already stopped'. It will be the Ukrainian and US delegations' turn to meet on Tuesday in Saudi Arabia. The talks in Riyadh appeared to have coalesced around the safety of shipping in the Black Sea. Washington is supporting the idea of a Black Sea ceasefire deal – a major aim of Russia – before securing a wider agreement. Ukraine has inflicted heavy naval losses on Russia in the Black Sea, including sinking its flagship there and blowing up submarines and other vessels as well as crippling Russian bases – forcing Moscow to withdraw its navy from Crimea. Simultaneously, Russia has been unable to halt Ukrainian grain and other exports despite pulling out of what was known as the 'Black Sea grain initiative' and returning to attacking shipping and Ukraine's civilian port infrastructure. A 'massive targeted cyber-attack' hit Ukrainian state railway operator Ukrzaliznytsia on Sunday, the company said, adding that it was working to restore its systems on Monday. The company said the attack did not affect train movements or schedules but disrupted its online booking system. After reports surfaced that China might send peacekeepers to enforce any peace deal, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Monday: 'Let me stress that the report is completely false. China's position on the Ukraine crisis is clear and consistent.' China has provided Russia with trade earnings from oil and other natural resources, along with diplomatic backing, but says it has not given any weapons or sent any personnel. China is, however, on close terms with North Korea, which has sent troops to fight alongside the Russian army. A Ukrainian artillery strike on Monday killed six people in eastern Ukraine's Luhansk region, the region's Russia-installed governor said. According to Russian reports, two of the dead worked for the Russian military-owned propaganda TV station Zvezda, which is internationally sanctioned; while another worked for state-aligned and internationally sanctioned Izvestia newspaper – part of a media group chaired by a rumoured mistress of Vladimir Putin who is also sanctioned. Russian authorities described the media employees as journalists and claimed they were deliberately targeted. There was no comment from Ukrainian officials.
Forbes
24-03-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Monday, March 24. Russia's War On Ukraine: News And Information From Ukraine
Dispatches from Ukraine. Day 1,125. Russia's Attacks on Ukraine Kyiv. Three people, including a 5-year-old child, were killed in a massive drone attack by Russian forces on Ukraine's capital in the early hours of March 23. Ten others were injured in the prolonged onslaught, which lasted some five hours, with drones striking residential buildings and cars, causing damage across the city. Sumy region. A Russian missile attack on the provincial capital city of Sumy in northeastern Ukraine on March 24 injured in 88 people, including 17 children. Donetsk region. Over the past three days, Russian shelling and systematic attacks across the eastern oblast, or province, killed 7 civilians and injured 15 others. Ukrainian forces have reportedly destroyed four Russian helicopters in an operation in Belgorod, Russia, more than 30 miles from the Ukrainian border. The strike, which targeted Russian Ka-52 attack helicopters and Mi-8 transport choppers, was carried out using U.S.-supplied High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), according to Ukrainian Special Operations Forces. The Russian government has yet to comment on the losses. U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters on March 24 that he expects a revenue-sharing agreement on Ukrainian critical minerals to be signed soon. The deal is being worked out in discussions between U.S. and Ukrainian officials in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where the U.S. delegation also met with Russian officials, with a focus on brokering a ceasefire in the Black Sea region. Trump stated that, beyond mineral deals, the U.S. is exploring the possibility of American companies taking control, and perhaps ownership, of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant, which has been under Russian occupation since 2022, citing U.S. expertise in energy infrastructure. Russia's central bank has privately warned the Kremlin that the U.S. and OPEC might trigger a sharp drop in oil prices, reminiscent of the 1980s plunge that contributed to the Soviet Union's collapse. The document, which was seen by Reuters, was prepared for a February meeting led by Russia's Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin. It cites the risk of oversupply in the market, noting that OPEC's oil reserves have reached record levels, on par with Moscow's total exports. If key producers, particularly Saudi Arabia, unleash their excess capacity, global supply could surge by 5 million barrels per day, potentially undermining the Kremlin's budget, which is built around a $70-per-barrel oil price. The analysis points to a historical precedent: the aftermath of OPEC production cuts in the 1970's that kept oil prices high until the cartel reversed course, opening the taps and driving prices down to $10-$15 per barrel by 1985. That shock triggered a financial crisis in the Soviet Union, which helped bring about its eventual collapse. A similar move today, whether driven by the U.S. or OPEC policy unfavorable for Moscow, could strain Russia's economy just as the Kremlin is managing war expenses while under Western sanctions. U.S. President Donald Trump underscored the geopolitical leverage of lower oil prices, arguing that driving them down could force Russia to end its war in Ukraine. The European Commission has reinforced its support for Ukraine's territorial integrity by rebuking a statement by U.S. Special Envoy Steven Witkoff that echoed the Kremlin's claims, that its 2022 referendums in Ukraine's occupied territories represent the will of residents. In a briefing on March 24, European Commission spokesperson Anita Hipper stressed that these so-called referendums were entirely falsified, conducted under duress, and have no legitimacy. The European Union underscored that only Ukraine has the right to set the terms of any peace talks, while reaffirming that discussions about Ukraine must include Ukraine. Culture front. On March 21, photography exhibit Beyond the Silence opened in Lviv, in western Ukraine, bringing into focus the realities of war, occupation, censorship, and human resilience across Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Nigeria, and Myanmar. Launched after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the project captures the raw realities of conflict through images, videos, and installations by 12 international photographers. The exhibit, highlighting how different nations face common struggles, comes to Ukraine after shows in Mexico, Kazakhstan, and Cambodia. The volume of English-language books published in Ukraine surpassed Russian-language books for the first time in 2024. Overall, 14,500 book titles were released, with a print circulation exceeding 34 million copies. While Ukrainian-language books dominated the market with over 12,000 titles and 31 million copies, English-language publications reached 377 titles with a combined print run of 923,000 copies, well above the total print run of 351,000 copies for the 472 Russian-language titles published. The Ukrainian book Behind Blue Eyes has been shortlisted for the Best Book Design from all over the World 2025 competition held by the German foundation for book design. The book features photographs taken with disposable cameras by Ukrainian children in frontline and liberated areas, paired with personal stories and reflections. Created by Readellion Publishing in collaboration with designers Mariia and Volodymyr Havrysh (Havhav Bureau), the book highlights the resilience of children in conflict zones. The work was recognized for its content's emotional impact at Ukraine's Book Arsenal festival in December 2024. By Danylo Nosov, Karina L. Tahiliani
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
More than 80 injured in Russian strike on Ukrainian city of Sumy
More than 80 people were injured on Monday in a Russian missile strike on the city of Sumy in north-eastern Ukraine, the authorities said. "Moscow speaks of peace while carrying out brutal strikes on densely populated residential areas in major Ukrainian cities," Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha wrote on X. Previous reports spoke of at least 65 people injured. The current toll is at least 88. Sybiha called on Russia to stop such attacks and for Ukraine's allies to provide the war-torn country with further support. "Any diplomacy with Moscow must be backed up by firepower, sanctions, and pressure," he wrote. "Today the enemy attacked an industrial site," the acting mayor of Sumy, Artem Kobzar, wrote on Telegram earlier in the day. The public prosecutor's office said 17 minors were among the injured and that residential buildings, a school and a hospital had also been damaged. Sumy has repeatedly been the target of Russian air strikes. US and Russian representatives began their latest round of talks in the Saudi Arabian capital Riyadh on Monday, with Washington seeking to broker an end to the war. Ukraine says it has destroyed four Russian military helicopters The Ukrainian military said on Monday that its forces had destroyed four Russian military helicopters stationed near the border. The press office of a Ukrainian special forces unit published images said to show a HIMARS multiple rocket launcher attacking helicopters stationed on an airfield in the Russian border region of Belgorod. The aircraft hit were two Mi-8 transport helicopters and two Ka-52 combat helicopters, it said. It was not initially possible to independently verify the claims. The Soviet Mi-8 model is a multi-purpose helicopter able to transport different goods or a large number of troops. Ka-52 helicopters are used for combat and reconnaissance operations. The four destroyed aircraft were stationed far behind the front line in a concealed position used by the Russian military for rapid troop deployments and surprise attacks against Ukraine, according to the Ukrainian military. "The enemy once again thought that it was out of reach in the hinterland. We have shown that nothing is out of reach for the special forces," the statement said. Ukraine has been defending itself against a full-scale Russian invasion for more than three years, repeatedly targeting objects on Russian territory to disrupt supplies for the Russian advance. Three Russian media workers killed in eastern Ukraine Three Russian media employees have been killed at the front in eastern Ukraine, their media outlets reported on Monday. A reporter working for the Russian newspaper Izvestia was killed, as well as a cameraman and a driver working for the military television channel Zvezda. Zvezda said they were killed by Ukrainian artillery fire. No exact location was given. The Izvestia reporter sent his last report from near the embattled Ukrainian city of Kupiansk in the Kharkiv region. Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, more than a dozen Russian journalists have been killed on assignment, according to the Russian state news agency TASS. Figures from the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine show that 18 Ukrainian and foreign reporters have been killed on assignment during the war. Another 10 journalists have been killed by bombs or shelling while not at work. More than 80 media employees have been killed while serving in the Ukrainian military.
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ukraine Launched HIMARS Attack On Russian Helicopters In Belgorod
Ukrainian special operations forces (SSO) say they destroyed two Ka-52 Hokum attack helicopters and two Mi-8 Hip transport helicopters in an attack behind the lines in Russia's Belgorod region. The helicopters were struck, according to SSO, by M130A2 Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System Alternative Warheads (GMLRS-AW), each containing a 200-pound warhead with 180,000 tungsten fragments. Ukrainian special operations forces spotted the helicopters at a forward arming and refueling point that was used 'for rapid movement of aircraft or for surprise attacks on the Security and Defense Forces of Ukraine,' the SSO claimed. That's when they called in the strike using the GMLRS-AW guided rockets. 'The enemy once again thought that deep in the rear he was unattainable,' SSO claimed. 'We once again proved that for the SSO there is nothing unattainable.' A video released by SSO shows the four helicopters and the explosions on the ground from the guided rockets. While one frame shows what appears to be a direct hit, the large number of fragments the warheads contain would likely shred a helicopter even if landing in close proximity to the target. SOF, along with the military intelligence and Rocket Forces and Artillery, struck and destroyed 4 russian helicopters – two Kamov Ka-52 and two Mil Mi-8 – behind enemy lines at russia's hidden position for rapid redeployment or attacks against Ukraine. — SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES OF UKRAINE (@SOF_UKR) March 24, 2025 GMLRS are ground-to-ground guided munitions fired by U.S.-made Army High Mobility Rocket System (HIMARS) and M270 MLRS. Ukraine has used them to devasting effect on Russian troop and equipment concentrations, hardened defensive locations, bridges, radars and other targets. The U.S. provided two GMLRS variants to Ukraine. The GMLRS Alternative Warhead (AW) was developed as a cluster munition alternative to engage area or imprecisely located targets. GMLRS Unitary Warhead utilizes a 200-pound high-explosive warhead to engage point targets with limited collateral damage. Both have a range of about 50 miles. The destruction of these helicopters marks the biggest known single loss of Russian rotary wing aviation in a ground strike since October 2023. That's when Ukraine used its U.S.-supplied Army Tactical Missile System short-range ballistic missiles (ATACMS) for the first time, striking an airport in the Russian-occupied city of Berdyansk. The Hokums have presented a formidable anti-armor threat to Ukraine, playing an important role in stopping its failed counteroffensive in the summer of 2023 and again in the Kursk region. Screencaps taken from a video of Ka-52 attacks on Ukrainian armor are visible below. Stills from a new video published by the Russian MoD showing a Ka-52 taking out a moving armored vehicle with a 9-A-4172K Vikhr-1 first still (HUD video) shows:-Slant range to the target: ~8 km.-Estimated time to impact: ~23 sec. — Guy Plopsky (@GuyPlopsky) June 15, 2023 However, the Ka-52s have been a prime target of Ukrainian air defenses, long-range missile and drone strikes and sabotage raids. Of the 120 Russia had before the full-on war, at least 51 have been destroyed, 12 damaged and one captured according to the Oryx open-source tracking group. That figure could be higher because Oryx only tabulates losses for which it has visual confirmation. You can see one of those sabotage attacks in the following video. #Russia: A video surfaced allegedly showing the planting of explosive charges on a Russian Ka-52 helicopter by a saboteur on Veretye Air Base, Pskov Oblast – according to Russian media two helicopters there were damaged due to unknown explosions at 30th October. — Polymarket Intel (@PolymarketIntel) October 31, 2022 The Mi-8s have also been frequently targeted by Ukraine. Of the roughly 300 that Russia had, at least 29 were destroyed and 10 damaged, Oryx noted. There was even one notable case of a Russian pilot defecting to Ukraine with his Hip, which you can read more about here. While the SSO did not give a specific location of where the helicopters were struck, the attack came amid conflicting reports on the status of a Ukrainian ground incursion into Belgorod that began on March 18. The Russian Defense Ministry (MoD) said its forces were attacking Ukrainian troops in that region. 'In the Belgorod direction, units of the Sever Group of Forces inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of four mechanized brigades, an assault regiment of the [Ukrainian Armed Forces], and three territorial defense brigades close to Miropolye, Ugroyedy, Turya, and Krasnopolye (in the Sumy region),' the MoD claimed on Telegram. The border villages of Demidovka, Krasnoyarsk district are 'temporarily occupied by Ukraine,' according to the Russian Romanov Light Telegram channel. Russian Z-channels keep confirming the capture of Demidivka in Belgorod Oblast by Ukrainian forces, and now whining that their troops just up and left, letting Ukrainian fighters advance. — WarTranslated (@wartranslated) March 23, 2025 Meanwhile, another Russian Telegram channel offered a different take. 'The village of Demidovka is under the control of the Russian Armed Forces!,' the Ashes Telegram channel claimed. 'Ukrainian military failed to enter the territory of Belgorod Oblast. The Ukrainian Armed Forces tried to break through to our territory, but were thrown back to Sumy Oblast.' The latest update from the Ukrainian Armed Forces General Staff makes no mention of an operation in Belgorod. However, a retired high-ranking Ukrainian officer told The War Zone that his nation's troops have penetrated as far as 12 kilometers (about 7.5 miles) into Belgorod at some locations. The Belgorod incursion has similar goals to one Ukraine launched in Russia's Kursk region last August, namely creating buffer space along the border and drawing Russian troops away from eastern Ukraine, the retired officer explained. Hitting attack and transport helicopters on the ground is the best way to defend against the capabilities they bring to bear. The attack 'reduces the Russian operational tempo based on reduced ability in close air support, logistics support and medevac,' said the retired Ukrainian officer. 'It also reduces the level of troop reinforcement in a contingency situation.' Though Ukraine developed the intelligence about the location of the Russian helicopters on its own, it should be noted that the use of the GMLRS-AW in this instance came after Ukraine had to curtail the employment of these munitions and other variants earlier this month when the U.S. temporarily stopped providing intelligence data for accurate strikes. The U.S. resumed that flow of that data after Ukraine agreed to in principle to a 30-day ceasefire last week. Contact the author: howard@
