Destruction of Russian Alligator helicopters, death of father and his son in Sumy Oblast: highlights of the day

Destruction of Alligators

In the afternoon of June 18, the Ukrainian military shot down another Russian Ka-52 Alligator attack helicopter, which is worth about $16 million, the Ukrainian Air Force reported.

This is the fourth Russian Ka-52 destroyed by the Ukrainian defenders in three days. Air Force spokesman Yuriy Ihnat said during the national telethon that two more Alligators were destroyed on June 17 on the Donetsk axis. Another such helicopter was shot down by the Ukrainian military on June 16.

Death of a father and son in Sumy Oblast

On the afternoon of June 18, Russians shelled Bilopillia, Sumy Oblast, with artillery. As a result, a father and his 4-year-old son were killed.

"A shell landed literally three meters away from them. They just ran for cover and were 5 meters away. The father died on the spot, the child did not reach the hospital in time, he died on the way," Bilopillia Mayor Yuriy Zarko told public broadcaster Suspilne.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs reported that the deceased father was a 38-year-old senior police lieutenant Roman Babenko.

Other news

• At least 489 children have been killed in Ukraine as a result of Russia's invasion, prosecutors say.
• All beaches in Odesa have been banned from swimming as the water is heavily polluted.
• A Russian ammunition depot exploded in Kherson Oblast.
• Rescuers warn of hail and squalls in several regions of Ukraine.
• The Ombudsperson's Office has recorded 240 cases of children being taken from Ukrainian refugees in Europe.