The dramatic second by which a British-made Starstreak missile downed a Russian helicopter has been captured on digicam.

Footage believed to have been recorded on Tuesday reveals the Ka-52 Alligator helicopter exploding in a ball of fireplace after being hit by the surface-to-air rocket.

Leaving behind a thick plume of black smoke, the helicopter can then be seen crashing right down to the bottom, engulfed by flames.

Sources have additionally alleged the plane was carrying certainly one of Russian President Vladimir Putin's high commanders, albeit their identification hasn't been revealed.

Russian pro-war blogger Kirill Fyodorov commented on the downing of the helicopter, saying: "As a result of the strike by three British SAM Stormer missiles, a Ka-52 was shot down. We have lost heroes."

Another supply stated the unnamed commander had "very large shoulder straps".

The rocket was fired from a Stormer mild tank donated after the start of the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Moscow defence sources claimed.

The Ukrainian thirty eighth Marine brigade launched the assault from close to the Donetsk space the place the nation's navy is focusing a part of its counter-offensive manoeuvres, Kyiv stated.

The Starstreak is an especially quick missile manufactured in Belfast which, after being fired, launches three laser beam-riding submunitions which enhance the chance of hitting the goal.

Two weeks in the past, one other high-ranking Russian official was killed with a UK-provided weapon - a Storm Shadow missile.

General Oleg Tsokov, the deputy commander of Russia’s southern navy district, was reportedly killed during a night missile strike on a hotel within the Russian-occupied resort metropolis of Berdiansk.

Since the start of the battle, Britain has been one of many greatest suppliers of navy support to Ukraine, with Storm Shadow missiles being delivered in May.

The destruction of the Russian warfare chopper would make the 311th helicopter a part of Putin's military for the reason that starting of the battle, in accordance with knowledge by the Kyiv Post.

Ukraine's news outlet additionally counts, as of July 26, the destruction by the arms of Ukrainians of 4177 tanks, 4727 artillery, 8136 autos and 315 plane.

On the opposite hand, Western intelligence has indicated that Ukraine has killed greater than 20 Russian generals since February 2022.