Kathrine Frich
Russian military Telegram channels claimed the helicopter was actually an Mi-8, not an Mi-28.
Russian military Telegram channels claimed the helicopter was actually an Mi-8, not an Mi-28.
Ukrainian drone downs $10 million Russian helicopter
A Russian Mi-8 helicopter worth over $10 million was destroyed by Ukrainian forces using a small FPV drone that cost just $500.
The dramatic strike, first reported by Kyiv Post, highlights Ukraine’s increasing use of low-cost, high-impact drone warfare.
Initial reports mistook the model
The operation was first announced by Robert “Madyar” Brovdi, commander of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces.
He stated that an Mi-28 helicopter had been hit by the 59th Brigade’s drone pilots.
A 30-second video clip of the strike accompanied the announcement.
Video shows the moment of impact
In the footage, which has not been independently verified, a drone can be seen striking the aircraft.
A sudden explosion follows, after which the helicopter bursts into flames and crashes. The precise location of the strike has not been disclosed.
Russian bloggers say it was an Mi-8
Shortly after the footage was released, Russian military Telegram channels claimed the helicopter was actually an Mi-8, not an Mi-28.
One channel, Supernova+, said: “Everything is fine, the boys were taken over by the infantry and evacuated.”
Mi-8: a versatile Soviet-era workhorse
The Mi-8 is a multi-role helicopter introduced in the 1960s.
It can carry up to 24 troops or large cargo loads, and is used in combat, medical evacuation and parachute missions.
Its durability has kept it in global service for decades.
The real target confirmed
Later that day, the Ukrainian unit “Height Predators” released extended footage confirming that the aircraft was indeed an Mi-8.
The battalion, part of the 59th Separate Assault Brigade, published the full video on Telegram.
Battalion celebrates ‘daring’ hit
“Today we added another ‘daring’ target to our collection,” the battalion wrote.
“The ‘Baltika’ crew destroyed a Russian Mi-8 helicopter worth over $10 million – and they did it with a small FPV drone worth just $500.”
Mi-28 confusion reveals battlefield fog
The Mi-28, also mentioned in early reports, is a modern Russian attack helicopter known as the “Night Hunter”.
It is designed to destroy armored targets and is equipped with a 30mm cannon, guided missiles and night-vision systems.
Russia supplies Mi-28s to allies
Moscow has reportedly provided Mi-28 helicopters to Iran and continues to use them heavily in Ukraine.
Each unit costs around $18 million, making their loss a blow not only militarily but financially.
18 Mi-28 helicopters lost so far
Oryx, a project that tracks military equipment losses using open sources, reports that at least 18 Mi-28s have been damaged or destroyed during the war.
However, experts believe the real number could be significantly higher.
Kremlin tries to mask losses
Western analysts say Russia has been actively concealing battlefield losses. Helicopter crashes are often downplayed or misreported.
The lack of consistent data makes it difficult to assess the full scale of Russian air losses.
Small drones changing the war
This attack is just one example of how cheap, homemade FPV drones are reshaping modern combat.
Ukrainian units are using them to strike high-value targets at a fraction of the cost, disrupting Russia’s reliance on expensive legacy equipment.
This article is made and published by Kathrine Frich, which may have used AI in the preparation
