PMC Wagner mercenaries shoot down three helicopters of the Russian Air Force overnight

The Wagner PMC mercenaries shot down three helicopters of the Russian Aerospace Forces on the night of June 23 to 24.

The statements of the leader of the paramilitary group Prigozhin were confirmed by Russian specialized telegram channels.

According to Fighterbomber, Wagner PMC mercenaries shot down two Mi-8MTPR electronic warfare helicopters (EW). The helicopters flew in a pair. The crews managed to survive the downing.

Also, Ilya Tumanov, administrator of the Fighterbomber channel, confirmed the destruction of the Mi-35 attack helicopter.

According to the Helicopterpilot channel, the Mi-35 was shot down after it had hit the Wagner convoy.

At the same time, the report says, ordinary crews refused to perform a combat mission and someone from the high command of the aviation unit flew the Mi-35.

A video of a downed Russian helicopter on fire was published on the network.

As previously reported, the owner of the Wagner PMC, Yevgeny Prigozhin, said that his mercenaries would destroy aviation, which would try to prevent his actions.

Prigozhin’s forces blocked the city center of Rostov-on-Don, the military facilities of the regional center and the Millerovo airfield. The mercenaries demand to give Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov to them. They plan to perform the so-called “March of Justice” to Moscow.

The Russian authorities qualify such actions of Prigozhin and his PMC as “armed rebellion.” A criminal case was opened against Prigozhin, he faces up to 20 years in prison.