A short video has been found on the internet which provides evidence of Russian aircraft operating within Eastern Ukraine in support of the separatist forces.
Recently the internet has been flooded with videos and photographs of Russian soldiers and military hardware moving into Eastern Ukraine. The evidence of the build-up of the Russian forces has become indisputable (unless you are Putin of course, because then you can deny anything). What has been less clear is the role of the Russian Air Force in this build up. Air support in order to provide air defence, support to ground troops, and for rapid logistical support and transportation are all roles one would expect from the Russian Air Force in the context of the build-up their invasion forces. However this air support is much more difficult to identify.
Previously there have been reports on the possible use of Russian fighters against the Ukrainian Air Force. Burkonews published two article on the 22nd and 29th September 2104 on the redeployment of helicopter units to Rostov, seemingly for use in Eastern Ukraine (https://informnapalm.org/en/anonymous-mil-mi-8amtsh-helicopter-near-ukrainian-border/ and https://informnapalm.org/en/russian-ka-52-alligator-attack-helicopters-near-ukrainian-border/), but we did not have photographic evidence of their actual operation in Donbass. Also in the recent past the LNR claimed to be setting up an air force. This unsurprisingly led to suspicions of a smokescreen being created for Russia to operate its military aircraft from Ukrainian soil.
A short video clip recently discovered on YouTube of a helicopter flying over Donetsk is therefore very revealing. In this clip a Mil Mi-8 helicopter is filmed by DNR Russian/separatists. The two separatists are recorded as being startled by the helicopter believing that the helicopter is a Ukrainian intrusion into DNR held territory. However after a short while the DNR troops recognize the markings on the helicopter as being of the Russian military. Realizing their mistake, and that they are identifying the activities of the Russian Air Force in Ukraine; they switch off their camera quickly. Nevertheless the recording was still uploaded onto YouTube along with other pro-Russian/separatist videos.
Written by: Burkonews.info
Read the latest book “Donbas in Flames. Guide to the Conflict Zone” published by Prometheus Center. This guide will be useful to journalists, researchers, war experts, diplomats and general readers seeking information on the war in Donbas.
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11/17/2014
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