Putin ally blasts 'degenerate' European leaders as Ukraine destroys Russian chopper

 Ukraine says it has destroyed a Russian combat helicopter in a drone strike, as worldwide tensions continued to heighten.

Video captures the moment the aircraft, engulfed in flames and trailing smoke, attempted an emergency landing under fire.

According to Ukraine's 59th Brigade of the Unmanned Systems Forces, the target was a Russian Mi-28 gunship. However, Russian media outlets claimed the downed aircraft was an Mi-8 transport helicopter. It comes amid rumors that Vladimir Putin has been replaced by a body double after viewers spotted a hidden 'clue' during a recent appearance.

One still image shows the Mi-8 caught in the sights of a Ukrainian FPV drone seconds before impact.

Russian outlet Voevoda reported that the crew survived: "The infantry picked up the guys and evacuated them. We're very grateful to them for that.... The pilots are great, they kept the burning [helicopter] under control and landed it safely."

Elsewhere, former president and Putin ally Dmitry Medvedev issued fresh warnings of nuclear confrontation, even while admitting that a new global war "contradicts the interests of our country."

He lashed out at European leaders, describing them as "insignificant degenerates," and continued: "The likelihood of a fatal accident always exists. And the factor of hyperactivity from frozen idiots has not gone away. Such a conflict carries an absolutely real risk of escalating into a war using weapons of mass destruction."

Meanwhile, Ukraine says it has received Donald Trump's go-ahead to use long-range Western missiles to strike targets deep inside Russia - a move Moscow warns could escalate into open war with NATO.

Retired lieutenant-general Keith Kellogg, the White House's special envoy to Kyiv, claimed the approval. If verified, it would be a significant win for Volodymyr Zelensky as Washington weighs supplying Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine.

Russian leader Vladimir Putin has previously cautioned that allowing such strikes would mean NATO was "at war with Russia".

Kellogg told Fox News that Trump and his vice-presidential running mate J D Vance have relaxed previous limits on long-range strikes. Asked whether Trump had authorised attacks, Kellogg said: "The answer is yes. Use the ability to hit deep. There are no such things as sanctuaries."