These images purport to show Russian attack helicopters destroying Ukrainian strongholds and armoured vehicles.

The footage shows what appears to be at least one Russian KA-52 attack helicopter taking off before heading to its targets. The footage then shows the helicopter firing ordnance that appears to hit Ukrainian ground forces. The footage ends with the helicopter apparently returning to base.

The images were obtained from the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD), with the Russian authorities claiming that they show how “Air strikes were carried out from a range of more than 5 kilometres.”

They added: “Helicopter crews destroyed two tanks and an AFU [Armed Forces of Ukraine] stronghold.”

The Russian MoD claimed in a statement yesterday (Sunday, 29th May) that “in total, 183 Ukrainian aircraft and 128 helicopters, 1,049 unmanned aerial vehicles, 325 anti-aircraft missile systems, 3,309 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 447 multiple launch rocket systems, 1,722 field artillery and mortars, as well as 3,270 units of special military vehicles were destroyed during the operation.”

The Russian MoD also said: “The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation in Ukraine.

“High-precision long-range missiles of the Russian Aerospace Forces have destroyed a large arsenal of the Ukrainian Armed Forces at an enterprise’s storage site in Krivoi Rog, Dnipropetrovsk Region.

“During the day, high-precision air-based missiles have hit 3 command posts, 25 areas of AFU manpower and military equipment concentration and 2 artillery batteries at firing positions.

“One Osa-AKM anti-aircraft missile launcher near Nikolaevka, Donetsk People-s Republic, 1 air target detection and tracking radar near Boguslavka, Kharkov Region, and 5 ammunition depots near Krasnogorovka, Pokrovskoe, Donetsk People’s Republic, Severodonetsk, Lugansk People’s Republic, and Bezrukov, Kharkov Region, have been destroyed.

“Operational-tactical, army and unmanned aviation have hit 2 command posts, as well as 53 areas of concentration of AFU manpower and military equipment.

“The attacks have resulted in the elimination of more than 300 nationalists and up to 50 AFU military and special equipment.

“Russian air defence means have shot down 1 Su-25 aircraft of the Ukrainian air force near Novogrigorovka, Dnepropetrovsk Region, in mid-air.

“Four Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles have been shot down near Malye Prokhody, Pitomnik in Kharkov Region, Mirolyubovka in Dnepropetrovsk Region and Nizhnyaya Krynka in Donetsk People’s Republic.

“One Ukrainian Smerch multiple rocket has been intercepted near Malaya Kamyshevakha, Kharkov Region.

“Missile troops and artillery have hit 62 command posts, 596 areas of manpower and military equipment concentration, as well as 52 positions of artillery and mortar units of Ukrainian nationalists.”

Russian troops invaded Ukraine on 24th February in what the Kremlin is still calling a “special military operation”. Today marks the 96th day of the campaign.

From 24th February to 29th May, the total combat losses of Russian troops stand at around 30,150 personnel, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The Ukrainian military also claims that Russia has lost 1,338 tanks, 3,270 armoured fighting vehicles, 631 artillery systems, 203 multiple launch rocket systems, 93 anti-aircraft systems, 207 warplanes, 174 helicopters, 2,240 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, 13 vessels, 504 unmanned aerial vehicles, 48 units of special equipment, and 116 cruise missiles.

Last week, Ukrainian officials said Russian forces attacked over 40 towns in the eastern Donbas region.

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree that makes it easier for Ukrainians in occupied areas to become citizens of Russia.

Russia has also done away with the upper age limit for contractual service in its military.

Ukraine has called Russia’s offer to lift the blockade of its Black Sea ports in return for the lifting of some sanctions “blackmail”.

The blockade has led to shortages in wheat and cooking oil across the world.