Ukrainian FPV Drone Downs Russian Mi-8 Helicopter Midair
A Russian Mi-8 transport helicopter was destroyed by a Ukrainian FPV drone near Kotliarivka, Donetsk Oblast, on Monday, according to Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces.
The strike was carried out by the 1st Unmanned Systems Battalion “Hawks of the Heights,” part of the 59th Separate Assault Brigade.
According to the unit, the Mi-8 was flying at low altitude alongside a Ka-52 helicopter, likely to avoid radar detection, when it was struck by the FPV drone.
A 30-second video shows the drone hitting the aircraft, followed by an explosion and crash. The time and exact coordinates were not disclosed.
“Today we added another ‘fat’ target to our collection. The crew of ‘Baltika’ destroyed a Russian Mi-8 attack helicopter worth over $10 million,” the Hawks of the Heights unit reported. “And they did it with a small FPV drone ‘Shrike’ costing only $500.”
“For the future: do not give us any ‘surprises’ from the air — it will cost you dearly,” the 59th Brigade said in a social media post.
Russian Telegram channels, including Supernova+, confirmed that an Mi-8 was hit and reported that the crew survived.
The Mi-8 is a multi-role Soviet-designed helicopter used for troop transport, medevac, and cargo. It remains a key asset in Russian operations due to its durability and versatility.
Last year, Ukraine’s Security Service shot down two Russian helicopters in flight, an Mi-8 transport and an Mi-28 attack helicopter, using a domestically produced Darts FPV fixed-wing drone that cost just $1,000.
