Swarm of Russian helicopter gunships blitzing Ukraine airport as Putin launches invasion

CHILLING video on Thursday appears to show the moment Russian helicopter gunships swept over Ukraine to attack an airport just miles from Kyiv.

Russian choppers can be seen hurtling over the landscape as they attacked the military base at Gostomel Airport.

Ukrainian officials said they managed to down at least three of the aircraft - but the Russians had managed to seize control of the area.

Kyiv's presidential office said there was "fierce fighting" at the airport.

In some of most dramatic footage of the invasion so far, the helicopters are seen flying low and appearing to be firing flares as they moved in.

Smoke is seen rising in the background from the devastated landscape amid the bloodshed which has plunged Europe into a new crisis.

The craft are believed to be a mix of Ka-52 Alligators, Mi-8s and Mi-24 military attack helicopters.

Elsewhere, fighter planes were seen flying low over Kyiv - while a Ukrainian An-26 transport plane was shot down, killing 5 people.

It came after Vladimir Putin declared WAR on Ukraine with an overnight barrage of artillery, airstrikes and missiles.

The tyrant declared a “special military operation” in Ukraine with a dawn raid after months of amassing his forces on the border and brazenly lying to the world about his plans to invade.