Two Ukrainian Mi-24 helicopters attack oil base in Russia.

According to information published by Tass on April 1, 2022, two Ukrainian helicopters attacked a fuel depot in Russia’s bordering Belgorod region causing a major fire but injuring no one. Eight fuel tanks are on fire at the oil depot in Belgorod.

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Ukrainian Mi-24 helicopter (Picture source: rodney78310)

According to regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov, two helicopters of the Ukrainian armed forces carried out two airstrikes in Belgorod that caused a fire at the city’s oil depot. The flames engulfed the fuel tanks at the depot. The city’s authorities are evacuating residents from the buildings adjacent to the oil depot.

The Mil Mi-24 is a large helicopter gunship, attack helicopter, and low-capacity troop transport with room for eight passengers. It is produced by Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant and has been operated since 1972 by the Soviet Air Force and its successors, along with 48 other nations.

Flight tests with a prototype began on 15 September 1969 with a tethered hover, and four days later the first free flight was conducted. A second prototype was built, followed by a test batch of ten helicopters.

The core of the aircraft was derived from the Mil Mi-8 with two top-mounted turboshaft engines driving a mid-mounted 17.3 m five-blade main rotor and a three-blade tail rotor. The engine configuration gave the aircraft its distinctive double air intake.