MOSCOW, November 8. /TASS/. An Mi-28NM helicopter crew has wiped a Ukrainian stronghold and troops in a border area of Russia’s Kursk Region, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement.

"An army aviation crew operating an Mi-28NM helicopter as part of a combined-arms tactical group carried out a missile strike on Ukrainian troops and a stronghold in a border area of the Kursk Region. The forward air controller confirmed that the target had been destroyed," the statement reads.

The ministry noted the combat mission was aimed at providing support to ground troops. "After the strike, the crew performed an anti-missile maneuver at an extremely low altitude and released decoy flares to avoid being hit by enemy missiles," the statement notes.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, army aircraft involved in the special military operation perform missions of escorting troop columns, destroying Ukrainian armored vehicles, transporting landing parties and military cargo, and providing air support to Russian forces.