Russia has confirmed the loss of a multipurpose Mi-8 helicopter after propagandists linked to the armed forces posted farewell messages for the aircraft’s crew.
The posts suggest that there were deaths among the service members on board, although Moscow has not yet officially disclosed the location or circumstances of the incident.
The case came to light after the Fighterbomber channel, run by Ilya Tumanov, published an image of the helicopter accompanied by a message paying tribute to the crew members. Shortly afterward, propagandist Kirill Fedorov also shared a photo of Russian soldiers standing in front of a similar aircraft, reinforcing indications of casualties during the operation.
The Mi-8 is widely used by Russian forces in different missions, including troop transport, air support, rescue operations and combat against Ukrainian drones. In recent months, these aircraft have often been used to intercept attacks carried out by unmanned vehicles on Russian territory and in occupied Crimea.
The loss of the helicopter comes days after Ukrainian drones struck Mi-28 and Mi-17 aircraft in Russia’s Voronezh region, more than 150 kilometers from the front line. The episode reinforces Ukraine’s growing ability to hit Russian military targets far from areas of direct combat.
Source: Militarnyi | Photo: Telegram – Fighterbomber | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
