Video: Suddenly found a Russian helicopter worth 36 million USD under the sea of ​​Kiev

The wreckage of a Mi-35M helicopter worth about $36 million has been pulled out of the Kiev Sea north of the Ukrainian capital. The plane was destroyed by the Stinger MANPADS air defense system in the first days of hostilities. According to Western media outlets, Russia has lost at least 155 helicopters since February 24.

The Mi-35M is an export and upgraded version of the Mi-24VM. This aircraft was first announced in 1999 and production began in 2005. The main function of the aircraft is to destroy armored vehicles, destroy enemy soldiers, drones as well as helicopters. enemy. Besides, the aircraft can also carry troops and special cargo, as well as wounded.

The Mi-35M can mount large-caliber machine guns as well as conventional machine guns in the cargo compartment, along with an upgraded avionics system as well as an improved sensor package, including a sighting system. night. In addition, the aircraft is also equipped with a target detection and opto-electronic rangefinder system and a satellite navigation system.

Mi-35M has 5 versions: Mi-35M1, Mi-35M2, Mi-35M3, Mi-35M4, and Mi-35MS.

The new move comes amid intense conflict in the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol, while the European Union (EU) proposes tougher new sanctions against Moscow, including including a phased oil embargo.

Mariupol authorities say about 200 civilians, as well as many Ukrainian fighters, are still hiding in a vast network of underground bunkers beneath the Azovstal steel plant, which is under constant shelling from artillery encirclement of the Russian army.

Ordinary people evacuated to safety this week under a UN-led agreement have expressed fear for those still trapped inside.

“Hopefully the bunkers containing civilians won’t be hit by Russian bullets,” said Tetyana Trotsak, one of dozens of Ukrainians evacuated to the Ukrainian-controlled town of Zaporizhzhia.

After failing to capture the capital Kiev in the first weeks of hostilities, Russia accelerated its attacks into southern and eastern Ukraine, with the main target being the Mariupol seaport of Azov.

Russia declared victory at Mariupol on April 21 after weeks of siege and shelling.

The city has been key to Moscow’s efforts to separate Ukraine from the Black Sea, and also to links with Russian-controlled territory to the south and east.

According to the Russian military, it will suspend military operations at the Azovstal plant from May 5 to May 7 to allow the evacuation of civilians. The Russian force also noted that humanitarian corridors will be opened to “evacuate civilians (working staff, women and children) in the underground bunkers of the plant”.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to help rescue more people from Azovstal.

Mr. Zelensky said: “The lives of the Ukrainian people there are at stake. We ask for the help of the United Nations in rescuing these people.”

More than 300 civilians have been evacuated from Mariupol and other areas in southern Ukraine as part of a joint UN operation – the Red Cross, UN humanitarian coordinator for Ukraine, Osnat Lubrani said. . “We need to make sure that all civilians caught up in the fighting can leave safely,” Ms. Lubrani said.