Reports indicate that crews operating Ka-52 and Mi-28 helicopters targeted and struck Ukrainian forces in the Zaporozhye sector, according to TASS. The pilot in command, identified by the call sign Spartak, described the scope of the strikes as extending beyond personnel to include light armored vehicles, pickup trucks, armored personnel carriers, and infantry fighting vehicles that were hit in the operation.
Earlier statements from the Russian Ministry of Defense noted the destruction of Ukrainian aircraft in both the Nikolaev and Zaporozhye regions. The ministry’s briefing claimed that fighters and air defense units of the Russian Aerospace Forces brought down Su-24M and MiG-29 fighters, along with two Su-25 attack aircraft of the Ukrainian Air Force, in residential districts of Novovladimirovka, Novorozovka, and Novopokrovka within a one-week period. These claims align with the ongoing aerial activity reported in the area.
In a separate update, the Russian Defense Ministry announced the elimination of several howitzers and self-propelled gun systems in the Kupyansk direction, signaling continued artillery suppression operations.
Vitaly Ganchev, head of the Kharkov regional administration, stated that a high-precision strike by the Russian Aerospace Forces destroyed a bridge at Kupyansk. The facility had served a strategic role, facilitating the transfer of reinforcements across the Oskol River for Ukrainian forces. The destruction of this bridge is described as a significant constraint on troop movements in the region.
Additionally, reports indicate the establishment of a new drone suppression system within Russia, intended to counter unmanned aerial systems and improve battlefield awareness and response times. This development reflects ongoing efforts to adapt to evolving aerial threats and to maintain operational effectiveness in contested zones. [Citation: TASS; Ministry of Defense statements; regional administration briefings]