According to several Russian and independent media, the combat vehicles Ka-52 were located in the territory of the military airfield "Varetje" (IATA code: none / RU code: ЬЛОС (ULOS)), which is located near the border of Russia (~ 50km, or 20km from the historical Abrene district) and Latvia , near the Russian city of Ostrov.The helicopters were undergoing repairs and were not operational at the time of the incident.

30.10.2022 around Troop 22 soldiers heard several explosions and then saw the scattered wreckage of two helicopters. The explosion was so strong that fragments of the fuselages were thrown up to a distance of 200 meters.

It is not known why the Ka-52 exploded.

The aviation brigade of the Russian 15th Army is based at the airfield. Mi-8MTV5, Mi-26T, Mi-28N, Mi-35M, Ka-52 helicopters are in operation. In total, about seventy helicopters are based at the airfield.

The Ka-52 Alligator is Russia's new generation reconnaissance and attack helicopter. The machine is capable of hitting armored and unarmored vehicles, manpower and air targets on the battlefield. Since the start of production in 2009, approximately 170 combat vehicles of this type have been released, of which ~90 were at the disposal of the Russian army. The price of one Ka-52 in the market is from 15M$ to 30M$ (depending on the model, modifications and equipment). The largest foreign buyer of Ka-52 has been Egypt (46 units)

The Ka-52 was considered a "flying tank" and "indestructible" until they were destroyed en masse by the Ukrainian army during the Russian invasion - at least 23 helicopters of this brand have been eliminated (until November 2022)

Varetje.

Accidents at this airfield (originally built in the 1930s near the former Russian-Livonian Order, later annected (1944-1951) portion of Latvia's territory- Abrene region border town of Ostrov) have happened before.

On 17.07.2001, during the celebrations in honor of the Naval Aviation Day, while performing a demonstration flight with the Su-33 aircraft, Major General of Naval Aviation, Hero of the Russian Federation Timur Avtandila d. Apakidze. The plane was destroyed

In the summer of 2006, one engine of the Su-24 aircraft failed during takeoff, as a result of which the aircraft fell from a height of 5 meters. The crew commander and navigator ejected. The plane was destroyed.

02/08/2016, accident of Mi-8MTV5-1. The crew was killed along with the aircraft.

On June 16, 2016, a Tu-22M3 from a long-range bomber-missile carrier of the Russian Space Force crashed while landing at the Ostrova airfield. It ran off the runway and broke the landing gear. The crew was uninjured, and recovery of the aircraft was deemed unnecessary

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