These images reportedly show Russian attack helicopters taking out a Ukrainian missile launch site after being fired upon.

The images appear to show the helicopters – daubed with a white ‘Z’ – flying into action before the footage then cuts and appears to show a helicopter targeting system.

The pilots can be heard rapidly speaking to each other in Russian as a plume of smoke can be seen from what appears to be a missile fired from the ground.

The footage then cuts again and appears to show a targeting system, with a target then exploding. The footage ends with attack helicopters landing, presumably back at base.

Newsflash obtained the images from the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) along with a statement earlier this morning (Wednesday, 13th April).

The Russian MoD said (in Russian): “A group of Mi-24, Mi-28N and Ka-52 attack helicopters carried out tasks to support troops on the ground. At this time, a rocket of the anti-aircraft missile system (SAM) ‘Buk’ of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was fired at the leader.”

The Ka-52 ‘Alligator’ is the latest iteration of the Ka-50 attack helicopter, developed and built by Russia in the late 1980s and early 1990s, as a heavily-armed attack aircraft used for scouting missions and special operations.

The Mil Mi-24 is a larger helicopter gunship that can carry passengers and also doubles as an attack helicopter, while the Mil Mi-28 is a somewhat lighter aircraft used exclusively as an attack chopper and which can, just like the Ka-52, be used both in the daytime and at night.

The Russian MoD also said: “On command, the helicopter crews launched a missile attack on the discovered launch site, destroying the launcher and the crew of the air defence system.

“In addition, during the flight, army aviation crews destroyed armoured vehicles belonging to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, disguised and hidden in a wooded area, with guided missiles.

“Army aviation in the course of a special military operation performs the tasks of escorting columns, destroying armoured vehicles, delivering troops, military cargo, and aviation support for units.”

The footage was also carried by the state-owned Russian media platform and television channel Zvezda, which headlined its article “Attack of the ‘reptiles'”, presumably in reference to the Ka-52’s unofficial name, the ‘Alligator’.