This is the moment four Russian military aircraft erupted into fireballs after a border region of Russia came under attack. Images shows four military helicopters worth £68 million being targeted in missile strikes in the Belgorod region, which neighbours war-torn Ukraine.

The attack was carried out by Ukraine, with the country's Main Directorate of Intelligence (GUR) claiming two Mi-8 helicopters and a pair of Ka-52s were destroyed. The former aircraft are used for transporting troops or equipment, while Ka-52s - known as Alligators - are attack or reconnaissance helicopters. A report based on the GUR statement read: "All helicopters were destroyed by missile strikes in the enemy's rear.

"The enemy had created a jumping-off point for aircraft - a camouflaged position for rapid movement of aircraft or for surprise attacks on the Security and Defence Forces of Ukraine."

The GUR said: “The enemy once again thought that deep in the rear he was unattainable.

“We once again proved that for the Special Operations Forces there is nothing unattainable.”

The Ukrainian operations come as US-brokered talks are underway in Saudi Arabia, aimed at a ceasefire followed by an end to the war, which has been going on for three years and one month.

US and Russian peace negotiators are currently holding talks in the Saudi capital. Reports say that the Russian delegation includes career diplomat Grigory Karasin and Sergei Beseda - an adviser to the head of the FSB spy agency.

Last week, Valdimir Putin appeared to agree to a partial 30-day ceasefire, which would inovlve a halt to strikes on energy infrastructure.

However, the Russian president set out a whole new list of conditions for a total ceasefire, which included an immediate cessation of all foreign military aid to Ukraine, as well as the sharing of intelligence material.