Republika Srpska, Bosnia's Serb-dominated region, has purchased three Russia-made 'Ansat' helicopters for needs of the entity's police forces, the Serb member of Bosnia's tripartite Presidency Milorad Dodik told RIA Novosti news agency.

“Despite the pressures by western partners to stop this purchase, we did it,” Dodik said.

Republika Srpska's Interior Ministry announced a 22 million Euro purchase early this year, with the ‘Russian Helicopters’ company as the only bidder.

The helicopters are expected to arrive in September this year, May next year and January 2022, according to the news agency.

Republika Srpska's Helicopter Service currently owns three helicopters ‘CA-341/342’ (Aerospatiale Gazelle) and one ‘Bell 206 JetRanger’. The service provides medical evacuation and transport in this region and assists the operations of the Interior Ministry.