UKRAINE have dealt Vladimir Putin another huge blow after blasting a Russian gas rig in the Black Sea, killing 40 soldiers.... CLICK TO READ THE FULL NEWS HERE▶▶
The rig was packed with “reconnaissance equipment” to help with Russia’s war effort, according to Ukrainian media.
Kyiv announced the successful attack on the platform and claimed up to 40 Russian military personnel were believed to be on board at the time of the explosion.
Pictures show a giant fireball erupting from the Russian headquarters with sparks flying off the platform after it was struck.
Flames continued to scorch the rig’s structure for some time after the initial blasts.
Thick plumes of black smoke were then seen coming from the decimated rig near to the Dnipro River.
Ukraine have claimed the rig used to be controlled by their military but had become occupied by Putin’s forces in recent years.
It comes as Putin is said to be “seething” over the Ukrainian blitz that has seen Russia scrambling to defend Kursk, insiders claim.
The humiliated tyrant is even said to be battling against his own men as an army general reportedly accused the Kremlin leadership of dismissing clear intelligence warning of the huge Kyiv counter-invasion.
The devastating surge into Kursk and several other Russian villages has been a “slap in the face” for a moody Putin as his flailing war continues to stutter.
A Kremlin official told Russian outlet Politika.Kozlov Ukraine’s mini invasion has “made Putin nervous” as he struggles to defend against the oncoming army of trucks, tanks and loyal soldiers.
“This is a slap in the face for the president. We have been unable to push the enemy back,” they added.
“A danger to the population has been created in Russia’s regions. European gas has gone up in price. This is not how a country confident of its victory behaves.”
Russia was reported to have lost a Ka-52 Alligator attack helicopter in its Kursk region today.
Putin’s war machine has been seen rushing to halt any further surprise Ukrainian offensives as they wrestle to gain back territory.
Moscow launched a massive “counter-terror operation” in three regions on Saturday as the defence ministry announced a major deployment of their military capabilities over to the frontlines.
In a statement to local media they said Russia is moving “multiple rocket launchers, towed artillery guns, tanks transported on trawls, heavy tracked vehicles and Ural and Kamaz trucks”.
They are being sent to defend Kursk’s Sudzhansky District which has been at the heart of Ukrainian attacks since Tuesday morning.
Putin has also given his men the power to wiretap phones, disconnect the internet and implement a stop and search operation, under Russian law.
This means troops can freely arrest citizens, confiscate cars and weapons and even break into houses if they sense a suspicion.
Despite Russia’s strong reaction, Ukraine has continued to disrupt Putin’s plans.
The latest offensive saw a column of Russian troops being deployed to halt the counter invasion ruthlessly eliminated.
Shocking footage shows a 400-strong military unit moments after it was blasted – with bodies pilling up on the road and inside of the burnt out service trucks.
Putin’s men were taken out by a HIMARS missile strike which directly blasted the convoy of 14 trucks.
The horrific trail of exploded trucks covered well over 100ft of road in the war torn Kursk region.
The exact number of deaths is still unconfirmed but it is set to mark one of the most crushing attacks of the war for Russia so far.
It comes as terrified Russians in the area have been forced to escape due to the continued drone and missile strikes.
Footage shows civilians driving away from their homes in huge numbers after Russian officials were made to declare a state of emergency after the shock invasion.
On Thursday, reports claimed Ukraine had advanced up to 20 miles inside Russia – leaving Putin humiliated by being caught out.
The tyrant blasted the attack as a “large-scale provocation”.
Ukraine’s army is said to be looking to keep control of Kursk and the surrounding regions for as long as possible despite Russia calling on reinforcements.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said last night that Russia needed to “feel” the consequences of its invasion which started over two years ago.
An adviser to the brave Ukrainian leader says the plan is to disrupt Putin’s regime and force him onto the negotiating table.
To strengthen their position, Zelensky has reportedly asked the US to allow them to use long-range ATACMS missiles to strike airfields used by Russia.
