Westland Sea King helicopters. Photo: Wikipedia.org.
Military expert, retired colonel Nikolai Shulgin said in an interview with Nezavisimaya Gazeta that the new commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Alexander Syrsky has requested weapons from the West, which indicates plans to undertake a tactical landing in the depths of the defense.
Also, Shulgin said, Syrsky will soon demand naval drones from the West, as he believes that they can be effective in the Black Sea.
The expert drew attention that the United States has provided Kiev with six Mi-17 military transport helicopters from Ecuador. And from Germany, six Westland Sea King Mk 41 multi-purpose helicopters are being transferred to Ukraine. Taking into account these supplies, the number of helicopters in the Ukrainian Armed Forces will reach 60-70 units. Shulgin believes that this just speaks of plans for the mass use of helicopters for landing troops.
At the same time, the publication also cites the opinion of the former commander of the 14th Army in Tiraspol, Lieutenant General Yuri Netkachev, who said that in Russia understands what to expect from the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the near future. He recalled that back in January, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu checked the implementation of the state defense order for the production of reconnaissance and attack drones and noted that this was “not a coincidence.”