A screenshot of a Russian MoD video of a Ka-52 targeting system, showing the helicopter firing rockets indirectly into the air rather than directly at the target as would normally be expected. (Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation)

Video evidence emerged on Twitter on 16/17 March suggesting that the presence of effective Ukrainian-operated manportable air defence systems (MANPADS) is having a detrimental effect on Russian attack helicopter operations over Ukraine.

One such video clip was apparently taken by a Russian soldier on the ground near Popasna, around 65 km west of Luhansk in eastern Ukraine, and shows firstly a Russian Ka-52 and then an Mi-28 attacking Ukrainian positions with rocket fire. Another clip bears the logo of Russian TV channel RT and shows airborne footage of multiple Ka-52s, armed with S-8 80 mm rockets, conducting an attack reported as being near Hostomel and the Irpin River on the northwest edge of Kyiv city.

A screenshot of a Russian MoD video of a Ka-52 targeting system, showing the helicopter firing rockets indirectly into the air rather than directly at the target as would normally be expected. (Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation)

Video evidence emerged on Twitter on 16/17 March suggesting that the presence of effective Ukrainian-operated manportable air defence systems (MANPADS) is having a detrimental effect on Russian attack helicopter operations over Ukraine.

One such video clip was apparently taken by a Russian soldier on the ground near Popasna, around 65 km west of Luhansk in eastern Ukraine, and shows firstly a Russian Ka-52 and then an Mi-28 attacking Ukrainian positions with rocket fire. Another clip bears the logo of Russian TV channel RT and shows airborne footage of multiple Ka-52s, armed with S-8 80 mm rockets, conducting an attack reported as being near Hostomel and the Irpin River on the northwest edge of Kyiv city.

A screenshot of a Russian MoD video of a Ka-52 targeting system, showing the helicopter firing rockets indirectly into the air rather than directly at the target as would normally be expected. (Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation)

Video evidence emerged on Twitter on 16/17 March suggesting that the presence of effective Ukrainian-operated manportable air defence systems (MANPADS) is having a detrimental effect on Russian attack helicopter operations over Ukraine.

One such video clip was apparently taken by a Russian soldier on the ground near Popasna, around 65 km west of Luhansk in eastern Ukraine, and shows firstly a Russian Ka-52 and then an Mi-28 attacking Ukrainian positions with rocket fire. Another clip bears the logo of Russian TV channel RT and shows airborne footage of multiple Ka-52s, armed with S-8 80 mm rockets, conducting an attack reported as being near Hostomel and the Irpin River on the northwest edge of Kyiv city.

A screenshot of a Russian MoD video of a Ka-52 targeting system, showing the helicopter firing rockets indirectly into the air rather than directly at the target as would normally be expected. (Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation)

Video evidence emerged on Twitter on 16/17 March suggesting that the presence of effective Ukrainian-operated manportable air defence systems (MANPADS) is having a detrimental effect on Russian attack helicopter operations over Ukraine.

One such video clip was apparently taken by a Russian soldier on the ground near Popasna, around 65 km west of Luhansk in eastern Ukraine, and shows firstly a Russian Ka-52 and then an Mi-28 attacking Ukrainian positions with rocket fire. Another clip bears the logo of Russian TV channel RT and shows airborne footage of multiple Ka-52s, armed with S-8 80 mm rockets, conducting an attack reported as being near Hostomel and the Irpin River on the northwest edge of Kyiv city.

A screenshot of a Russian MoD video of a Ka-52 targeting system, showing the helicopter firing rockets indirectly into the air rather than directly at the target as would normally be expected. (Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation)

Video evidence emerged on Twitter on 16/17 March suggesting that the presence of effective Ukrainian-operated manportable air defence systems (MANPADS) is having a detrimental effect on Russian attack helicopter operations over Ukraine.

One such video clip was apparently taken by a Russian soldier on the ground near Popasna, around 65 km west of Luhansk in eastern Ukraine, and shows firstly a Russian Ka-52 and then an Mi-28 attacking Ukrainian positions with rocket fire. Another clip bears the logo of Russian TV channel RT and shows airborne footage of multiple Ka-52s, armed with S-8 80 mm rockets, conducting an attack reported as being near Hostomel and the Irpin River on the northwest edge of Kyiv city.

A screenshot of a Russian MoD video of a Ka-52 targeting system, showing the helicopter firing rockets indirectly into the air rather than directly at the target as would normally be expected. (Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation)

Video evidence emerged on Twitter on 16/17 March suggesting that the presence of effective Ukrainian-operated manportable air defence systems (MANPADS) is having a detrimental effect on Russian attack helicopter operations over Ukraine.

One such video clip was apparently taken by a Russian soldier on the ground near Popasna, around 65 km west of Luhansk in eastern Ukraine, and shows firstly a Russian Ka-52 and then an Mi-28 attacking Ukrainian positions with rocket fire. Another clip bears the logo of Russian TV channel RT and shows airborne footage of multiple Ka-52s, armed with S-8 80 mm rockets, conducting an attack reported as being near Hostomel and the Irpin River on the northwest edge of Kyiv city.