Russian helicopters appear to have been pulled back from an airport in the key city of Kherson, satellite images suggest, as the invading force struggles to quell ferocious resistance to its Black Sea offensive.

Kherson, around 60 miles north-west of Crimea, was the first significant Ukrainian city to be occupied by Russian forces, but the surrounding region has yet to be taken.

Now, following a recent attack on Kherson airport by Ukrainian troops, Russia has withdrawn most of its helicopters from the strategic outpost, according to analysis of satellite images by the New York Times.

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Pictures captured by the space imaging company Planet Labs apparently shows the removal of equipment from the airport over the space of six days.

Read more: The Telegraph