Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces have for the first time shot down a Russian helicopter using a long-range drone, in an attack carried out near Kuteynikovo, in the Rostov region.
The target was a Mi-8 sent to intercept Ukrainian drones. According to the SOF, the operation required technical adaptations and detailed planning, marking a shift in the dynamics of this type of aerial confrontation.
Footage released by the military shows that an FP-1 drone in FPV configuration was responsible for striking the helicopter, while another FP-1 monitored the destruction to confirm the impact.
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Russia has been using attack helicopters to hunt Ukrainian drones for years, and previous incidents show Mi-28s attempting to shoot down UAVs or even suffering accidents during these missions, some attributed to technical failures or collisions with drones.
Although there have been previous reports of helicopters damaged by kamikaze drones, this is the first time an in-flight attack has been carried out with a long-range UAV. Ukraine also uses helicopters to combat Russian drones, especially Mi-8 and Mi-24 models, which can intercept up to 40% of targets depending on weather conditions.
Source: Militarnyi | Photo: X @DenShtilierman | Wikimedia. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
