Ukrainian forces down Russian Ka-52 "Alligator" helicopter on southern front
Photo: Telegram / Tarnavskyi
Ukrainian defenders on the southern front eliminated a Russian helicopter along with its crew.
According to the commander of the "Tavria" operational-strategic grouping, Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, on February 7, soldiers from one of the mechanized units destroyed a Russian attack helicopter Ka-52, Rubryka reports.
The Ka-52, also known as the "Alligator," is a Russian combat helicopter, a command vehicle of army aviation, which gathers information about the area, marks targets, and helps coordinate the actions of other helicopters in combat. The machine can engage armored and unarmored vehicles, personnel, and aerial targets on the battlefield.
The "Alligator" was hit with a man-portable air-defense system, or MANPADS. Tarnavskyi joked that the helicopter "fertilized the ground on the Avdiivka front."
"The enemy's main offensive efforts are concentrated in the Novopavlivka, Avdiivka, and Orikhove directions. I thank each soldier for the bravery," Tarnavskyi said.
The commander stressed that Ukrainian soldiers firmly hold the defense in the operational zone of the "Tavria" grouping.
"The enemy's total losses in the past day amounted to 409 troops and 34 units of military equipment, not including drones," the general said.
Tarnavskyi specified that seven tanks, 11 combat armored vehicles, four artillery systems, one helicopter, six vehicles, and five units of special equipment were destroyed. Ukrainian Defense Forces also eradicated one ammunition depot and another important facility. 178 drones of various types were neutralized or destroyed.
Overall, on February 7, the Ukrainian forces eliminated nearly 910 soldiers on all fronts. The total losses of Russian troops since the beginning of the full-fledged invasion have already exceeded 392,380 soldiers.
Since the beginning of the full-scale war and as of the morning of February 8, the Ukrainian military has already destroyed 325 Russian helicopters, 332 aircraft, 666 air defense systems, 7,191 tactical drones, and 1,880 cruise missiles.
