Images of helicopter allegedly downed by Wagner Group shared on Russian social media

Fragments of a Russian Ka-52 helicopter allegedly shot down by Wagner Group fighters have been shared on Russian Telegram channels.

Source: Astra and Baza, Russian Telegram channels; RT, a pro-Kremlin Russian Telegram channel

Details: Baza said that the pictures were shared by a Russian military reporter.

Astra reported that the helicopter was downed near the village of Talovaya in Voronezh Oblast.

The photos show that the helicopter has been completely destroyed. The crew are most likely dead.

Earlier, a video capturing what appeared like an attack on a Russian military helicopter in Russia’s Voronezh Oblast was shared on Russian social media. The video shows the helicopter firing decoy flares to escape the attack. That is when the video stops: the person recording it was likely afraid of being hit by decoys or projectiles.

In another video, the person holding the camera is saying that a grenade launcher was firing at the helicopter and that it has finally been shot down.

Previously: Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin claimed on 24 June that his mercenaries shot down a Russian army helicopter.

Background:

• On the evening of 23 June, Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin claimed that the regular Russian army had launched a missile strike on the Wagner mercenaries’ rear camps. He has therefore deployed 25,000 of his mercenaries "to restore justice".
• Prigozhin claimed that his forces had taken control of military facilities in Rostov-on-Don, including the air base, and were heading "to Moscow" and that his soldiers had shot down three Russian helicopters. Wagner mercenaries have also seized military facilities in the Russian city of Voronezh.
• In a special address on 24 June, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia is "fighting for survival" and that there are attempts to "organise a rebellion" in the country.
• UK Defence Intelligence reported that Wagner Group fighters are aiming to reach Moscow.
• On the afternoon of 24 June, Russian media reported that the Office of the President of the Russian Federation anticipates that Yevgeny Prigozhin’s Wagner Group fighters will likely reach Moscow’s outskirts in the next few hours, with fighting expected near Russia’s capital. Ukrainian intelligence has information that Putin has urgently left Moscow for his residence in Valdai.
• On 24 June, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin announced that a "counter-terrorism operation" had been introduced in the Russian capital. Roads in the Moscow region are being blocked to prevent Wagner forces from advancing on the Russian capital.
• Excavators have dug up a road in Russia’s Lipetsk Oblast where a Wagner Group convoy was spotted earlier on 24 June.
• Railways stations in Rostov-on-Don are overflowing with people who want to leave the city; there are also long queues at a train station on the outskirts of the city.

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