Putin's Helicopter Targeted in Drone Strike, Commander Says [View all]
Source: Newsweek
Published May 26, 2025 at 3:31 AM EDT
Vladimir Putin's helicopter was targeted by Ukrainian drones as he visited the Kursk region in a surprise visit last week, a Russian military official has claimed. The alleged attack took place as the Russian president visited the border region for the first time since Moscow claimed it had repelled Ukrainian forces from the area last month.
Putin's helicopter was "at the epicenter" of a "large-scale" Ukrainian drone attack on May 20, Yury Dashkin, commander of a Russian air defense division, said, according to Kremlin newswire Tass. Newsweek has contacted the Kremlin for comment by email.
Why It Matters
This is the first known instance in which the Russian president is reported to have flown through an active drone attack.
What To Know
Russia's defense ministry was forced to shoot down dozens of drones during the incident, according to Dashkin, who said in an interview aired by the state-run Rossiya-24 TV channel that the intensity of the assault escalated significantly as the presidential aircraft flew over Kursk. He said Russian air defense systems engaged the drones to ensure the safety of the presidential helicopter. Dashkin described the attack as "unprecedented" but said all the Ukrainian drones had been destroyed.
Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/vladimir-putin-helicopter-targeted-attack-drones-2076957
= new reply since forum marked as read