Flight was culmination of intelligence operation, Ukrainian military sources tell newspaper, but Russian blogger claims pilot got lost
A Russian military helicopter has landed inA Russian military blogger said a helicopter had crossed the border with three people on board “a couple of weeks ago”, but claimed the aircraft had lost its way.
A spokesperson for Ukraine’s military intelligence appeared to confirm that the aircraft had landed in Ukraine, but in line with government reticence about intelligence operations, did not give any details. Since the start of the war, Ukraine has pressed western allies to provide better air defences and aircraft to protect the country. That campaign culminated in a pledge ofThe planes will be handed over in tranches after pilot training has been satisfactorily completed, but because the new crews have to improve their English before learning to fly and maintain the jets, that will not happen until well into next year.
In the context of Russia’s large fleet, the defection of a highly trained pilot – after a successful Ukrainian intelligence mission – would be a more significant military blow than the loss of a single helicopter through crew error.
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