A Russian attack helicopter is blown out of the sky and crashes into a reservoir below in harrowing footage from the first days of the invasion of Ukraine.
The video showed the heavily armed helicopter falling out of the sky after coming under heavy fire from the ground.
Moments later, the aircraft smashed into the water. It is not known if the pilot or anybody else aboard survived the impact.
Other choppers flying in close formation also took hits from the barrage of bullets, but managed to stay airborne.
The hardware is known as the Alligator and is believed to be Russia ’s most sophisticated attack helicopter, drawing comparisons with the USA’s infamous Apache.
First made in 1996, it is capable of destroying armoured ground targets as well as personnel and is regularly deployed as a surveillance platform for other vehicles.
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As the invasion got underway last week squadrons of the aircraft were filmed flying towards capital Kyiv in chilling scenes.
Joseph Dempsey, a research associate for defence and military analysis for the International Institute for Strategic Studies, wrote on Twitter : “Ka-52 Hokum B attack helicopter in apparent forced landing after suffering damage, reportedly North West of [Kyiv].”
It comes amid accusations Vladimir Putin risked causing a 'nuclear apocalypse' by attacking Zaporizhzhia, the largest nuclear power station in Europe, early this morning.
Russian troops opened fire on the station and eventually overpowered local troops.
The Verkhovna Rada (Parliament) of Ukraine posted on Telegram: "Putin might create a nuclear apocalypse as a result of potential catastrophe on South Ukrainian Nuclear Power Plant in Zaporizhzhia."
Russia denied it was responsible for the attack, claiming it had held the area since the second day of the invasion.
Instead it said the attack was by Ukrainians.
Russians are fleeing their country amid fears Vladimir Putin’s fury will turn on his own people and close the borders, leaving them unable to escape his tyranny.
Trains full of desperate people lugging heavy luggage travelling from St Petersburg have pulled into Helsinki railway station this week.
The route is the only available option for people wanting to travel between Russia and an EU country by rail.
More and more are turning to the option since much of the West has closed its airspace to Russian planes, leaving flights grounded.
