Three Russian Helicopters Destroyed in Ukrainian Sabotage Operations

https://www.newsweek.com/russia-helicopters-ukraine-gur-sabotage-operations-1931168

Three helicopters located at bases deep inside Russia were damaged in under a week by sabotage operations orchestrated by Ukraine's GUR military intelligence agency, Kyiv has said.

An Mi-8 multipurpose helicopter "burned down" at the Kryazh military airfield close to the southwestern city of Samara on Wednesday, the GUR said in a statement published on Saturday.

An Mi-28 and a Ka-226 multipurpose helicopter were also "hit by fire" southeast of the Russian capital, Moscow, on July 21, the agency added.

Ukraine has repeatedly targeted assets inside internationally recognized Russian territory, although it is not permitted to use long-range Western-provided weapons to do so. Kyiv has wielded its homegrown drones to zero in on Russian aircraft, military bases, and oil refineries.

"The aggressor used this helicopter in the war against Ukraine to transport weapons and personnel," the GUR said at the time, adding each Mi-8 helicopter can cost up to $15 million.

Days later, the agency said a Ka-32 helicopter was "burned" at a Moscow airfield.