Izvestia correspondent Alexander Morozov on April 25 showed the work of Russian military helicopter pilots during a special operation to protect Donbass.
The pilots have Ka-52 and Mi-8 helicopters at their disposal. On the ground — crews with rich combat experience. They are the ones who cover the Russian troops from the sky and help them win victories.
Helicopter pilots play an important role in escorting columns. Air cover helps to avoid losses and get to your destination on time
"Our role is to timely reveal the combat position being prepared for an attack on the column, to transfer it immediately. If there is an obvious preparation for an attack, we will immediately crush this firing point. Secondly, it is the moral support of the train that moves on the column. It's much calmer when we move from above. I sit high and look far away. It's clear to me — I'm warning you," said one of the pilots.
In addition to air cover, pilots perform a wide range of tasks: landing troops, destroying armored vehicles and enemy manpower, as well as delivering humanitarian supplies.
On April 25, the Ministry of Defense showed footage of the Iskander missile systems during a special operation in the Donbas. The Iskander is a high—precision weapon with a firing range of up to 500 kilometers. The warhead of the Iskander missile can destroy almost any target.
The special operation of the Russian Federation to protect the population of the Luhansk and Donetsk People's Republics continues in Ukraine and in the Donbas, the beginning of which was announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 24. Moscow explained that its tasks include demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine. On April 19, the Russian side announced the beginning of the next stage of the military operation — "the complete liberation of the Donetsk and Lugansk republics."
The situation in the region significantly worsened in mid-February due to shelling by the Ukrainian military. The authorities of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics announced the evacuation of residents to Russia and appealed to Moscow for help. On February 21, the President of the Russian Federation signed a decree recognizing the independence of the DPR and LPR.
For more relevant videos and details about the situation in Donbass, watch the Izvestia TV channel.