Russian troops suffered a loss when a Ka-52 attack helicopter, along with its crew, was lost in the Kursk region. The news was initially reported by Russian propagandist Ilya Tumanov, who runs a dedicated aviation telegram channel. The loss of the helicopter, which occurred on August 10, was later confirmed by other propagandists, including Alexei Zemtsov, who focuses on Russian aviation in the war against Ukraine. The crew of the Ka-52, consisting of a pilot and a navigator-operator, tragically lost their lives. The propagandists claim that the attack helicopter was shot down by a man-portable air defense system (MANPADS) in the Kursk region.

This incident marks the second loss of a Russian Ka-52 helicopter in the same region. On August 6, propaganda Telegram channels reported that another Ka-52 helicopter had crash-landed after being hit by an anti-aircraft missile or other air defense system. The helicopter’s commander was killed, and the navigator sustained severe injuries and was hospitalized. A photo circulating on social media showed the Russian helicopter engulfed in flames on the ground. It is important to note that although the Ka-52 helicopters are equipped with ejection seats, these seats may not consistently function, resulting in fatalities or injuries to the crew. Additionally, in a previous incident in July, Russia lost a Ka-52 combat helicopter, and the crew was also unfortunately killed. The types of weapon systems used to shoot down these helicopters in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict have varied, with some unconventional weapons successfully targeting the aircraft.

ملخص الأخبار

• Loss of a Russian Ka-52 due to a man-portable air defense system in Kursk region
• Second Ka-52 loss in the same region in recent days, with crew fatalities
• Previous incident in which a Ka-52 was lost to an Uragan multiple launch rocket system