Ukraine launched a large-scale drone assault aimed at downing a helicopter and assassinate Russian President Vladimir Putin during a covert visit to the Kursk region on May 20, according to reports from Russian military officials and the Associated Press.
The dramatic incident, which was only confirmed after Putin had safely returned from the front-line area, underscores the increasing boldness of Ukrainian tactics and the potential for the war to spill deeper into Russian territory. Kursk, which borders Ukraine and has seen active fighting, has been under Russian control since August.
Russian Air Force Major-General Yuri Dashkin revealed that Putin’s helicopter came dangerously close to being caught in the crossfire of what he called an “unprecedented” drone attack by Ukrainian forces.
According to Dashkin, 46 aircraft-type drones were launched by Ukraine in an attempt to strike Russian targets in the area—including, it appears, the aircraft carrying the Russian president.
“During the period when the President was working in the Kursk region, the enemy launched an unprecedented attack with unmanned aerial vehicles,” Dashkin said. “The air defense group in this area destroyed 46 aircraft-type drones.”
The attack reportedly intensified at the very moment Putin’s helicopter was flying over the area,