KHANKALA, August 27 (AVN) - Army aviation aircraft flew 574 sorties in Chechnya last week, a spokesman for the unified federal headquarters said on Monday.
The aircraft took off 193 times to inflict strikes on the enemy and convoy military and civil motorcades, the spokesman told the Military News Agency. Transport helicopters airlifted almost 120t of cargo and about 4,000 people.
Air strikes destroyed three extremist bases and five small rebel groups in the Vedeno and Nozhai-Yurt districts and in the Sharo-Argun gorge. Pilots prevented four guerrilla attacks at army and police convoys.
Rebels fired at military helicopters twice last week. On Sunday they launched a Strela rocket at a MI-24 Hind helicopter in the Shatoi district. The helicopter performed an anti-rocket manoeuvre and activated thermal traps. As a result, the rocket missed the target.