Mi-8. Photo: Wikimedia
A recently circulating video online revealed the involvement of Ukrainian helicopters in intercepting Russian kamikaze drones Shahed-136, an operation officially confirmed by the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ Air Force Command at the end of July.
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The video, with an unknown time, location, and specific helicopter affiliation, shows a Ukrainian Mi-8 equipped with a nose-mounted machine gun tower. The footage documents a successful “hunt,” where the helicopter catches up to a Shahed drone and destroys it with several bursts of gunfire.
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Although identifying the pilots is challenging, certain details suggest they are Ukrainian military personnel, such as the use of the American HGU-56/P helmet, which is characteristic of Ukrainian forces.
Additionally, the nose-mounted machine gun is standard equipment for some military units of the Mi-8, including the upgraded Ukrainian Mi-8MTV2, which also features additional armor, new navigation equipment, and anti-missile defense systems.
It’s worth noting that the Mi-8 platform can be armed with even more powerful weapons. In Russia, for instance, a heavily armed version of the Mi-8AMTSh-VN was showcased in 2021, equipped with a “Kord” 12.7 mm machine gun and a UPK-23-250 23 mm automatic cannon.
Photo and video: Twitter @clashreport. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
