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In a recent report, Forbes highlighted a significant development in the ongoing conflict between Moscow and Kiev. Russian attack helicopters are now armed with cutting-edge, highly effective missiles, transforming their capabilities during the Ukrainian counteroffensive.

As the Ukrainian forces navigated through defensive minefields and anti-tank trenches, the Russian military made a brand new addition to their arsenal, a high-tech, long-range missile. According to Forbes, this missile is a promising game-changer in the intensifying conflict.

The British Ministry of Defense's intelligence update released on July 27th underscored the pivotal role of the Ka-52 "Alligator" attack helicopter in this area. The Ka-52M, an upgraded version of its predecessor, underwent development and testing in Syria, drawing from valuable combat experience.

The Ka-52M helicopter boasts an array of advanced features, including a modern electro-optical targeting system, advanced communications, and an efficient storage management system, allowing it to carry a variety of new and lethal weapons, the report said.

One key upgrade to the Ka-52 fleet is the LMUR missile, which exhibits an impressive range of approximately 15 kilometers. This considerably enhances the helicopter's striking capabilities.

Read next: Kiev blames West for Moscow's success in repelling counteroffensive

Russian attack helicopters utilized the laser beam riding anti-tank Vikhr missiles and ATAKA anti-tank guided missiles (ATGM) for their anti-tank operations. While effective, these missiles require a direct line of sight with the target and may place the helicopter in perilous proximity to Ukrainian air defenses.

Russian Ka-52 helicopter launching an Ataka ATGM in Ukraine.https://t.co/YEQ7F6yeoN pic.twitter.com/Z1bD1sDGcg

— Rob Lee (@RALee85) March 20, 2022

However, the LMUR missile takes a different approach, leveraging a combination of thermal imaging and satellite navigation instead of laser guidance, enabling the helicopter to launch the missile from a safe distance toward specific coordinates, using the missile's thermal imaging system to lock onto the target with precision.

This technological advancement signifies a major leap forward in the capabilities of Russian attack helicopters, granting them greater flexibility and efficiency in executing their missions.

Ukraine has been hyping its counteroffensive attack, since last year. Although the attack was intended for spring, it was moved to the summer after Ukraine blamed the delay on a lack of weapons.

Russian President Vladimir Putin underlined on Sunday, during talks with his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko in St. Petersburg, that the Ukrainian counteroffensive has failed.

According to the Russian leader, the Ukrainian armed forces had lost more than 26,000 troops during the counter-offensive.

Lukashenko said the US was estimating Ukrainian losses since the start of the counteroffensive at 26,000 people.

Despite the fact that Ukraine's counteroffensive is moving more slowly than anticipated, Ukraine continues to reject the option of freezing the battle, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

"No matter how far we advance in our counter-offensive, we will not agree to a frozen conflict because that is war, that is a prospectless development for Ukraine," Zelensky said while admitting that the counteroffensive's progress has been "slower than desired." 

Days earlier, Zelensky said that the weather "is not favorable - the rains make our task more difficult," in his daily evening address about the counteroffensive launched by his forces against the Russian forces.