Ukraine news LATEST: Putin humiliated as Russia loses scores of Ka-52 helicopters & Zelensky prepares to retake Kherson

VLADIMIR Putin has been left humiliated after the UK’s Ministry of Defence confirmed that Russian forces had lost over a quarter of the Air Force’s in-service fleet of 90 Ka-52s. The UK’s Ministry of Defence said: “There have been at least 23 verified losses of Russia’s Ka-52 HOKUM attack helicopter in Ukraine since the invasion. “Russian attack helicopters have likely suffered particular attrition from Ukrainian man-portable air defence systems (MANPADS), while the helicopters frequently operate with less consistent top-cover from combat jets than they would expect under Russian military doctrine.” It comes as Western leaders have come together to slam Russia’s “transparently false” claims that Ukraine plans to use a “dirty bomb” on its own territory. The UK, US and France released a joint statement stating they “all reject Russia’s transparently false allegations that Ukraine is preparing to use a dirty bomb on its own territory.” Read our Ukraine-Russia live blog below for the latest updates…