Russia deploys 20 helicopters to Berdiansk airfield

The Russians realized that a counteroffensive by the Ukrainian army would soon begin. That is why they deployed 20 helicopters to Zaporizhzhia. They were recorded on satellite images at the Berdiansk airfield.

The journalists had at their disposal Planet Labs satellite images dated June 13. They show that there are at least 27 Russian helicopters at the Berdiansk airfield. Most of them arrived there on the eve of the Ukrainian offensive.

Most of the helicopters were redeployed the day before

In fact, this is confirmed by other satellite images taken over the Berdiansk airfield. The photos taken on May 31 show that there were twenty fewer helicopters at the facility then.

Two aviation experts helped the Skhemy investigators. They helped identify the models of helicopters that are now at the airfield.

We are talking about:

• 5 Ka-52 Alligator helicopters;

• 9 Mi-8 or Mi-24 helicopters;

• 13 Ka-29 helicopters.

Aviation expert Anatoliy Khrapchynsky noted that most of these helicopters are needed to support the ground forces of the Russian army. They can also be used to strengthen the defense against a counteroffensive by the Ukrainian army.

Mi-8s can be used for evacuation, but they are also likely to be used for rapid deployment of troops or equipment closer to the battlefield,

- he noted.

Author - Serhii Kolomiets, 14/06/2023