The Ukrainian forces launched a large-scale drone attack at Russian President Vladimir Putin’s helicopter, which was retaliated by the Russian forces, a report has claimed.
The helicopter of Vladimir Putin, which was on its way to Russia’s Kursk Oblast, was attacked by the Ukrainian military on May 20 (Tuesday), Ukrainska Pravda reported.
The report, quoting Yuri Dashkin, Commander of the Air Defence division in Kursk Oblast, said that the Ukrainian military launched an unprecedented attack at the aircraft, with Putin onboard. However, the Russian air defences allegedly destroyed 46 drones.
“We simultaneously fought an anti-aircraft battle and provided security in the air for the flight of the president’s helicopter. The helicopter was actually at the epicentre of repelling a large-scale drone attack,” Dashkin reportedly said.
President Putin’s visit to Russia’s Kursk region on Tuesday was for the first time since Moscow claimed that it drove Ukrainian forces out of the area last month.
Ukrainian forces made a surprise incursion into Kursk in August 2024 in one of their biggest battlefield successes. Since the end of 2023, Russia has mostly had the advantage on the battlefield, with the exception of Kursk, according to the Associated Press.
The Russian Ministry of Defense had said that its air defences shot down dozens of drones over multiple Russian regions on Wednesday. It said that the Russian military shot down 262 drones between 8 pm on Tuesday and 6 pm on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Russia launched a barrage of 367 drones and missiles at Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv, in the largest aerial attack of the war so far.
The attack killed at least 12 people, including three children, and injured dozen others. Putin has effectively rejected recent US and European proposals for a ceasefire.
