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of Crimea. On Monday, May 6, footage of battles
between Ukrainian drones and Russian patrol
helicopters was released. In one video, a Russian
Kamov Ka-29 helicopter fires a machine gun at
a Ukrainian naval drone in Vuzka Bay, Crimea.
The prolonged duel involved intense maneuvering
from both vehicles, but eventually, the boat was
hit and started burning.
However, a second battle ended in a draw.
The naval drone was equipped with an anti-
aircraft missile, either an R-73 or R-60, mounted
on a rail on its back. When a Russian Mi-8
helicopter attacked, the drone fired this missile
at it. Although the missile missed, the helicopter
retreated to safety.
During the observed period, naval drones sank
at least one Russian speedboat and reportedly
hit a Russian minesweeper. The Karakurt-class
corvette Cyclone was supposedly destroyed
by missiles in the port of Sevastopol on Sunday,
May 19.
Ukrainian Losses
The Ukrainian air force also suffered losses
during this period, both on the ground (though not
as severe as the Russian losses) and one in the
air. On Saturday, May 11, the Russians managed
to locate a forward helicopter base near
Manvelivka in the Dnipropetrovsk region. Two
Mi-24 helicopters were destroyed in the
subsequent attack, killing at least three pilots:
Major Anatoliy Skiba, Lieutenant Oleksandr
Atasov, and Chief Sergeant Serhiy Nazarčuk,
all reportedly from the 11th Independent Army
Aviation Brigade.
On May 15, 16, and 18, the airfield in Myrhorod
in the Poltava region was repeatedly targeted
by Russian missile attacks. Satellite images
indicate that one aircraft shelter took a direct hit,
but it is unclear if anything was inside.
Subsequently, on Wednesday, May 22, Dnipro
airport, where retired Yak-40 aircraft were
destroyed the previous month, was hit again.
This time, a MiG-29 fighter was struck. Given the
intense fire, it was likely an airworthy airplane
and not a decoy.
The sole Ukrainian air loss occurred on Friday,
May 17, when a Su-27 from the 831st Tactical
Aviation Brigade was shot down while attacking
ground targets. The experienced pilot, Lieutenant
Colonel Denis Vasyljuk, was killed. The aircraft
was reportedly hit by an R-37 or R-77 missile
fired by a Russian Su-35S fighter.
Propaganda vs. Reality
To avoid accusations of spreading only
"Western propaganda," we also include some
from the Eastern perspective. The Russian
armed forces officially announced that from
May 11 to May 17, they destroyed four Mi-24
helicopters, six MiG-29 fighters, and one Su-27.
Out of these eleven claims in one week, only
Images from the duel between a Russian Ka-29
and a Ukrainian naval drone.
A Ukrainian Su-24.
Lieutenant Colonel Denis
Vasyljuk died on May 17 in the
cockpit of a Ukrainian Su-27.
FrankenSAM –
a combination of
a Buk launch
system and
Sea Sparrow
missiles.
A Kub system delivered
to Ukraine from the
Czech Republic.
A Ukrainian OSA AK with R-73 missiles.
A Ukrainian MiG-29 in a shelter.
A Ukrainian naval drone equipped with an R-73 missile.
INFO Eduard
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July 2024