A Russian military column was attacked and destroyed in the Kursk region in a disastrous friendly fire incident.
Putin’s army has been desperately trying to repel a Ukrainian incursion into its territory, that was launched with devastating speed last Tuesday.
In just under a week, Zelensky’s forces have penetrated 18 miles into Russia’s Kursk region, seizing an astonishing 386 square miles, according to top army officials.
Putin’s generals appear helpless to stop the attack, as they scramble to respond to the military crisis.
On Monday, a Russian Ka-52M helicopter opened fire on one of its own military columns in a lethal case of mistaken identity.
It destroyed military equipment including a 152.4 mm self-propelled howitzer, known as a 2S19 Msta-S.
There are still no confirmed reports of casualties, but photos circulating on social media show the twisted and smoking remains of destroyed armoured vehicles.
The incident occurred in the village of Krivitskie Budy, Belovsky district – territory which is located 30km (19 miles) from the territory controlled by Ukraine.
Ukraine now controls around 1,000 square kilometres (386 sq.miles) of territory in Russia’s Kursk region and is continuing its military offensive, according to the country’s army chief.
General Oleksandr Syrskyi made the announcement in a video shared by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Telegram.
Zelensky says he has ordered a “humanitarian plan” to be drawn up for the area, which has seen mass evacuations.
Ukraine’s army also posted videos of Chechen prisoners from the Akhmat battalion, that were sent to help stop the incursion.
During the filmed interrogation, the captive claims that his name is Delimkhan, and that he is from Grozny – Chechnya’s capital.
Referring to Chechnya’s leader Ramzan Kadyrov, the prisoner said: “Ramzan Akhmatovich, they say hello to you.”
The commander of the Chechen battalion Apti Alaudinov claimed that “not a single fighter of the unit surrendered.”
