Kathrine Frich
Ukraine’s latest announcement suggests another boundary has been crossed: the downing of a Russian helicopter inside Russian territory.
The war in Ukraine has steadily expanded beyond the established front lines, with long-range drones, precision strikes and covert operations increasingly reshaping the conflict’s geography.
As the fighting enters a new phase, attacks once considered impossible have become part of a widening pattern on both sides.
Cross-border strike
Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces (SSO) reported that a long-range combat drone shot down a Russian Mi-8 helicopter near Kuteynikovo in Russia’s Rostov Oblast.
While the unit did not disclose the exact date or detailed circumstances, it described the operation as the first of its kind involving this model.
The SSO framed the strike as a symbolic shift, writing on Telegram: “We are changing the rules of the game: from now on, we are the hunters!”
The mi-8’s role
The Mi-8, a twin-engine helicopter developed by the Mil design bureau and introduced in the mid-1960s, remains one of the most widely used aircraft in global military aviation.
It is a frontline workhorse for the Russian armed forces, used for troop transport, logistics, battlefield support and, in some variants, armed missions.
Its durability and ability to operate in harsh or remote environments have kept it in active service for decades, making it a familiar presence on both sides of the front.
Mi-8 technical profile
Designed during the Soviet era, the Mi-8 typically flies at around 250 km/h and can cover close to 500 kilometres on a single load of fuel, depending on operational weight.
It is powered by two Klimov turboshaft engines and can lift roughly 24 fully equipped soldiers or several tonnes of cargo.
The helicopter operates effectively at altitudes of around 4,500 metres and can be outfitted with rocket pods, machine guns or other light armaments, giving many variants both transport and combat capabilities.
These specifications have helped cement its reputation as a versatile, rugged, multi-role platform.
Earlier helicopter losses
This is not the first time Mi-8 helicopters have been struck during the conflict.
In September, Ukraine’s military intelligence service (HUR) announced that several were destroyed during attacks on Russian facilities in occupied Crimea.
Those incidents involved aircraft on the ground, whereas Ukraine’s latest claim concerns a helicopter destroyed over Russian territory itself, a factor that Ukrainian officials describe as strategically and symbolically distinct.
Sources: SSO (Ukraine), HUR (Ukraine), L’independent
