Russia reeling as 'Ukrainians launch daring raid obliterating Putin's £14million choppers'

The major attack is reportedly being kept from Russian citizens, a Ukrainian source has claimed.

Three of Putin's helicopters were reportedly shot down

Three of Putin's helicopters were reportedly shot down (Image: Getty)

Ukraine has taken out three Russian helicopters during a sabotage operation, a source in Kyiv's military agency has claimed.

The source said that Ukrainian forces successfully struck a Mi-28 and a Ka-226 helicopters at the National Center of Helicopter Construction of Mil and Kamov in the early hours of July 21.

It was also claimed by the Ukrainian source, speaking to the Kyiv Indpendent, that Russian authorities are trying to hide details of the attack from the Russian population.

On July 24, Ukraine destroyed a Mi-8 helicopter during another operation at the Samara Kryazh military airfield in the Samara region. The cost of an Mi-28 helicopter is reportedly $18million (£14million)

An Mi-28 helicopter is worth a reported £14milllion

An Mi-28 helicopter is worth a reported £14milllion (Image: Getty)

In 2022, India was set to pay $1.2billion (£935,00) for 200 Ka-226 helicopters, working out at around $6million per chopper (£4.6million).

The base is located about 800 kilometres from the border with Ukraine. Ukraine has targeted Russian military and energy infrastructure inside Russian territory on a number of occasions.

Russia has lost 326 helicopters since the start of the full-scale invasion, according to the latest report from the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces

The battle on the ground in Ukraine is also rumbling on as President Volodymyr Zelensky visits the frontline near Kharkiv, currently under assault by Russian forces/

Zelensky visited the frontline in Kharkiv

Zelensky visited the frontline in Kharkiv (Image: Getty)

Praising his soldiers, Zelensky said: “Today, I had the honour to be there to congratulate our Special Forces warriors on their professional day and to present them with state awards."

Russian President Vladimir Putin is continuing to try and deter Western allies from helping Ukraine.

He warned the US against deploying weapons in Germany on Sunday, adding that he could station missiles in locations within reach of the US.

Putin said: “The flight time to targets on our territory of such missiles, which in the future may be equipped with nuclear warheads, will be about 10 minutes.

"We will take mirror measures to deploy, taking into account the actions of the United States, its satellites in Europe and in other regions of the world.

“This situation is reminiscent of the events of the Cold War related to the deployment of American medium-range Pershing missiles in Europe."

Would you like to receive news notifications from Daily Express?