Russian sources reported that two Ka-52 attack helicopters and one Mi-8 multi-role helicopter were downed on Tuesday while attempting to intercept Ukrainian drones targeting the Ust-Luga commercial seaport. The losses were attributed to a combination of hostile action and friendly fire from Russian air-defense systems in the Leningrad region. While the crew of at least one helicopter was confirmed killed, the status of the other two crews is currently unknown.
The drones targeted the strategic Baltic Sea port, which remained burning into Wednesday morning. Earlier reports from Russian military bloggers had only noted the loss of the Ka-52 helicopters, with sources linked to the Russian Air Force stating that the effort to protect St. Petersburg from the raid had come at a “very, very, very high price.”
