A drone attack targeted a helicopter carrying Russian President Vladimir Putin, but the attempt was stopped just in time by Russian air defense systems.
According to Russian news agency RBC, the country’s air defense commander Yuri Dashkin shared the details in an interview on Sunday, May 25.
The attack happened on May 20, during a visit by President Putin to the Russian province of Kursk, which borders Ukraine. The area has seen heavy fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces for several months.
Commander Dashkin claimed that on that day, Ukrainian forces launched 46 drones into the sky over Kursk. He said it was a sudden and unexpected strike. The main goal was to hit the helicopter carrying the Russian president.
“All the drones were destroyed before they could reach their targets,” said Dashkin. “Not a scratch was made on the helicopter.”
The air defense commander also gave a wider picture of the drone threat. Between May 20 and 22, Ukrainian forces launched a total of 1,170 drones at various targets. These included both military and civilian buildings across many Russian cities, including Moscow. But Dashkin assured that none of these drones reached their goals.
“No harm or loss of life took place,” he added. “We stopped every drone before it could do damage.”
Dashkin shared that Putin ended his visit to Kursk on May 20 and was on his way back to Moscow that same day. As the helicopter was flying back, Ukraine started launching waves of drones at it.
“Our defense team acted fast. We shot down every drone,” said the commander.
This attack marked one of the biggest drone attempts so far against a high-profile Russian leader. The incident has added more tension to the already serious conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
In response to this attack, Russia launched drone strikes of its own. These strikes took place across Ukraine on Saturday and Sunday. Reports say 12 people were killed in Ukrainian cities, including the capital, Kyiv.
The Russian defense team is now on high alert. Officials say they are ready for more drone threats. They believe Ukraine is increasing the use of drones as part of its war plan.
This drone war has become a big part of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. Both sides now use drones to strike at enemy targets from a distance. While drones are cheaper than missiles, they can still do a lot of harm.
Russia has said it will boost its air defense systems in key areas. The goal is to protect leaders and important buildings. Ukraine, on the other hand, says it is defending its land from invasion.
The war, which began in 2022, has caused many deaths and a lot of damage in both countries. Peace talks have not moved forward in recent months. Now, with drone attacks rising, the fight is only growing more dangerous.
As the world watches, both Russia and Ukraine continue to push forward. Each side claims to be defending its people. But as this recent attack on Putin’s helicopter shows, the battle is far from over.
For now, Russia says its skies are safe, thanks to its defense systems. But the threat remains. And with more drones in use, the danger is always near.
