the images of the burning helicopter sow confusion

4 mins

At first glance, this is an image comparable to those we regularly see on social media. A helicopter explodes on the ground hit by what appears to be a drone. This time, the scene takes place on the Tiraspol base in Transnistria, and it is therefore a Moldovan machine which burns in a pro-Russian region.

A video seen millions of times on X and Telegram

State security of the self-proclaimed republic speak immediately after an attack. This source specifies, in a press release, that the kamikaze drone came from the Odessa region in Ukraine. kyiv responds, and speaks of a “ provocation of the Russia ”, to drive is it specified at “ a climb in the region “.

However, several points deserve our attention. First of all, the target: a Russian-made Mi-8 helicopter. We manage to geolocate the scene.

The helicopter is parked in a parking lot in a corner of the base. A base that is visibly very inactive. Referring to the satellite images accessible on Google Earth, we see that the targeted machine has been parked there since 2003 and that its rotor has not turned since at least 2013…

In addition, the images suggest that part of the windshield was broken or dismantled. The turbines and fragile sensors are not protected by covers.

No doubt: the helicopter is not in flight condition, as this is also confirmed by the Chisinau authorities..

Second point: the drone. A black shape appears for a very brief moment on the left of the image, but disappears just before the explosion. The freeze frame does not make it possible to spot the drone in question during the impact. That being said, the explosion is significant. It blows out the glass parts, and even causes the rear ramp to open. Impossible to identify the drone or its origin, but one would expect a relatively large machine given the ball of fire that appears on the screen.

In the images, no projectile hitting the helicopter can be seen. We can exclude the fact that the explosion was linked to the helicopter’s fuel, because it is very unlikely that there would be kerosene or even vapors remaining in the tanks of a machine abandoned outside for such a long time. years.

A false flag attack?

In the end, the video camera placed right in front of the scene filmed a wreck burning, potentially hit by an unidentified drone, which in a few hours will spark a wave of comments on the networks, like on this professional account -Russian which states that “ Putin now has justification sufficient. Ukrainians recklessly attack the state of Transnistria and destroy an old Mi-8 helicopter. »

Furthermore, images of the charred wreckage are taken up and amplified by the usual Russian propaganda sites such as New.ruidentified in France as part of the Portal Kombat disinformation network.

At the end of February, the Transnistrian authorities asked Moscow for “protective measures” in the face of pressure from the Moldovan government. Sunday’s event comes as voters in the pro-Russian separatist region were expected to participate in the ” patriotic vote » should lead to the re-election of Vladimir Poutine at the head of Russia.

Narrow strip of land located between the Moldova and Ukraine, Transnistria seceded after a short war in 1992 against the Moldovan army. Russia still maintains 1,500 soldiers there, according to official figures, intended in particular to carry out a peacekeeping mission.