Dramatic footage aired on Russian TV shows the Mi-8AMTSh and Ka-52 helicopters flying through the air while firing unguided missiles on “aggressors” in the distance.

The readiness of the Mi-8AMTSh “Terminator” and the Ka-52 “Alligator” were tested as part of tactical exercises on the Kuril Islands, in Russia’s far eastern Sakhalin Oblast region.

During the training exercise helicopter pilots from Russia’s Eastern Military District (EMD) were tasked with urgently mounting attacks on the simulated enemy.

Missiles were fired on an adversary that was “preparing to strike a missile and bomb strike at the base in the Khabarovsk Territory”, according to Russian media.

The firing exercise comes just days after Britain, the US and France bombarded suspected chemical weapons facilities in Syria.

US President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Theresa May ordered the strike in response to a suspected chemical attack in Douma.

Russia, a key ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, was furious about the attack.

Vladimir Putin said the missile strike was an “act of aggression” and warned Western leaders that “there will be consequences” and “chaos” if further military action is taken.

But Russia has stopped short of ordering counter military action in response, instead choosing to support Assad with troops on the ground in Douma, Eastern Ghouta.

The war drills on the Kuril Islands do not appear to be connected with the situation in Syria, yet they show Russia’s commitment to priming its military.

More than 2,500 Russian soldiers from the EMD used motorised rifles, tanks and artillery units to attack mock enemies on the battlefield.

The EMD is one of the four operational strategic commands of the Russian Armed Forces.

Headquartered in the Far East city of Khabarovsk, the EMD is in charge of all military affairs in the Zabaikalsky Krai and Far East region.

Originally Published in Daily Star