Ukraine made an audacious bid to blast Vladimir Putin’s presidential helicopter out of the sky over Russia’s Kursk region last week, according to reports.

Air force Major-General Yuri Dashkin said repeated military drone attacks were launched at the moment when the Russian leader made a rare visit close to the war zone.

A Putin trip to Kursk region was previously reported as taking place on May 20. Dashkin said: “During the period when the President [Putin] was working in the Kursk region, the enemy launched an unprecedented attack with unmanned aerial vehicles.

According to Express News, the air defence group in this area destroyed 46 aircraft-type [Ukrainian military drones].” The region borders Ukraine and a small area of territory remains occupied by Kyiv’s troops after a shock incursion in August last year.

Major-General Dashkin said: “The intensity of the attack during the flight of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief’s aircraft over Kursk region increased significantly.

We simultaneously conducted an air battle and ensured the safety of the presidential helicopter in the air.

“The task was accomplished. The attack of the enemy drones was repelled, and all air targets were hit.” A state TV host asked if this meant Putin’s helicopter was actually in the combat zone.

Dashkin replied: “Yes, that’s right.” His words suggest Ukraine had intelligence about Putin’s secret visit to Kursk which was not announced until he had left the region.

The major-general added: “In fact, in the epicentre of repelling a massive attack by the enemy with unmanned aerial vehicles.”

Unlike President Volodymyr Zelensky, Putin is suspected to have avoided visits into the war zone for much of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.