تحميل "Ukrainian Air Force holds large-scale military helicopter drills ahead of counteroffensive"

The Ukrainian Air Force began a large-scale attack helicopter drill in northern Ukraine on Thursday (June 1) ahead of the planned counteroffensive. Soldiers and pilots flew Soviet-designed Mi-17 and Mi-24 helicopter gunships training to engage enemy ground targets such as infantry, military vehicles and fortifications. Asked how prepared he and his fellow servicemen were for the counteroffensive, pilot Oleksii, who has flown over 200 missions in the past few years, said he has been training for 9 years, starting from the year Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 and Russia-backed separatists seized territory in eastern Ukraine. "It was complicated but we gained skills since 2014. During the past eight years, until the start of the full-scale war, we have been training for this," Oleksii said. His colleagues said they were ready to fight with the weapons they have but additional deliveries from the allies in the West would increase Ukraine's chances to push Russian troops from the occupied territories. "We have enough weapons but in order to increase the enemy's losses we need more modern weapons, various kinds, modern guided missiles, various types and calibers as well as high precision-guided missiles, " Oleh, another serviceman said. Mayor Vasyl Mulik, a military instructor, has a 'wish list'. "We need Apaches, we need Viper-es, we need Venoms, we need Black Hawks, we need, I do not know, we need everything,' he said, adding that learning how to operate the new weapons would not pose any problems for his staff. Ukraine is wrapping up preparations for the counteroffensive and is largely ready for it to go ahead, Ukraine's Joint Forces Commander Serhiy Nayev said. "Our boys are highly motivated, ready to perform tasks, " he said. The Sun newspaper brings you the latest breaking news videos and explainers from the UK and around the world Become a Sun Subscriber and hit the bell to be the first to know Read The Sun: https://www.thesun.co.uk/ Like The Sun on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/unsupportedbrowser Follow The Sun on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheSun Subscribe to The Sun on Snapchat: https://www.snapchat.com/discover/The_Sun/1633225139