Russian Choppers Destroy Five Ukraine Unmanned Boats in Black Sea

Russian Mi-8 and Ka-29 helicopters destroyed the Ukrainian unmanned boats en route to Crimea, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Friday.

"Mi-8 and Ka-29 helicopters of the naval aviation of the Black Sea Fleet destroyed five unmanned boats in the Black Sea heading towards the Crimean Peninsula," the ministry said.

Earlier, veteran military analyst Scott Ritter explained that Ukraine is currently gambling away its elite troops in the Kursk region in a desperate bid to change the situation on the battlefield.

Ukraine’s losses in the Kursk area have amounted up to 220 troops and 19 armored vehicles, the Russian defense ministry said.

Ukraine’s overall losses in the course of combat operations stand at up to 2,860 troops.

Situation in Kursk Region: elimination of Ukrainian mobile groups, HIMARS launchers

Here are key facts about the situation.

Situation in the region

• Russia’s Battlegroup North has repelled an attack toward Russky Porechny and Gordeyevka in the Kursk Region.



• Ukrainian mobile groups trying to advance deeper inside Russia’s territory were eliminated one kilometer west of Anastasyevka and 1.5 kilometer southeast of Kauchuk.



• Ukrainian troops and vehicles were hit near Alexandria, Snagosti, Mirny, Kazachya Loknya, Korenevo, Pleskhovo, and Pushkarny.



• Russian aircraft struck Ukrainian reserves, munitions and fuel depots nea Yuryevo, Khotneya, Vorozgba, Ivolzhanka, Zhuravka, and Boyaro-Lezhachi in the Sumy Region.

Ukraine’s losses

• Ukraine’s daily losses stand at up to 220 troops and 19 armored vehicles, including four tanks, eight armored infantry carriers and seven armored combat vehicles, as well as seven automobiles, three HIMARS launchers, two guided missile transporters, and two artillery systems.



• Ukraine’s overall losses over the period of combat operations include up to 2,860 troops, 41 tanks, 40 armored personnel carriers, 23 combat infantry carriers, 213 armored combat vehicles, 102 automobiles, four air defense systems, six multiple launch missile systems, including three HIMARS launchers, two guided missile transporters, 22 artillery systems, and three electronic warfare stations.

Statements by local authorities

• More than 140 civilians, including ten children, have been taken to hospitals after Ukraine’s attacks on the Kursk Region since August 6, according to Pavel Alimenko, the region’s acting deputy health minister.



• Local medical establishments have enough medicine, medical equipment and articles of daily necessity, he added.



• Medical teams of more than 400 people have arrived to the Kursk Region from other Russian regions.