Russian Helicopter Troops Left Chornobayivka

The withdrawal of the contingent came after a successful attack by the Ukrainian army.

Russian occupants have withdrawn most of the helicopters from the airfield in Chornobayivka near Kherson after a successful attack by the Ukrainian army. The New York Times, which analysed satellite images of the Planet Labs company, reported this on March 22.

This, according to the interviewed experts, "may be an eloquent sign of Russia's military failures in southern Ukraine".

The publication described the Chornobayivka airfield as a strategic facility.

Pictures of the airport, taken by Planet Labs on March 16 and 21, were published on Twitter by The New York Times journalist Christoph Koettl. They show there were at least four Russian helicopters at the airfield a week ago and now they are gone.

Russia withdrew the equipment amid rumours that the Ukrainian army is trying to regain lost territory in Kherson Region, as reported to The New York Times by unnamed Ukrainian and US officials.

The publication noted that the Ukrainian military was conducting an "aggressive counteroffensive" in the south of the country, hoping to use public disobedience to support the military effort.