Russian provocation turns towards Baltics

  • 2014-05-01
  • From wire reports, RIGA

A newly formed Russian army helicopter brigade has begun training flights in the northwest of the country near the borders with the Baltic States of Estonia and Latvia, a spokesman for the Russian Western Military District said Wednesday, April 30, reports Novosti.

“Helicopters of the army aviation brigade of the Western Military District, based in the Pskov region, have begun regular training flights in the skies over northwestern Russia,” Col. Oleg Kochetkov said.

Kochetkov said the flights involve dozens of Mi-28N Night Hunter and Ka-52 Alligator attack helicopters as well as Mi-8MTV-5 and Mi-26T combat transport helicopters.

The 15th army aviation brigade, formed in December and stationed at the Ostrov airbase, is fully equipped with new, recently-built helicopters. The brigade currently comprises three helicopter squadrons, with two more to be added in the near future.