THIS is the dramatic moment when Ukrainian armed forces seem to fire down an elite Russian military helicopter in the eastern Ukrainian province of Luhansk, as Kyiv’s fightback against Moscow shows no signs of abating.

Ukraine’s armed forces have launched a surprise counter-attack on Vladimir Putin’s troops, driving Russia out of numerous previously occupied parts of the nation. The stubborn retaliation was captured in a spectacular video released today, which showed Ukrainian soldiers allegedly shooting down a Russian Mi-28 assault helicopter. A video posted online today shows a helicopter being shot out of the sky near Holubivka in the eastern Ukrainian province of Luhansk.

Luhansk is part of the contested Donbas area, which Russia is said to have switched its focus to after failing to conquer Kiev.

Prior to the invasion, President Putin said that he recognised the Luhansk region’s independence.

This is also the first observable combat loss of a Mi-28 class helicopter during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

According to Defence Blog Media, the elite helicopter, dubbed Havoc by NATO, is a “all-weather, day-night, military tandem, two-seat anti-armour assault helicopter.”