Entire Landing Party Incinerated: Russians Reveal Details of the Destruction of the Mi-8 by Ukrainian FPV

On September 29, a Ukrainian FPV drone destroyed a Russian Mi-8 transport helicopter, hitting the cockpit with the troops. As a result of the attack, the fuel caught fire, and almost all the personnel were burned to death on board.

Details of the losses were provided by Russian military blogger Alexei Voevoda, who knew the pilot of the helicopter. According to him, the helicopter was flying at a low speed, which allowed the Ukrainian drone to hit the target accurately.

“The FPV drone hit directly into the cockpit with the troops,” Voevoda said. He added that the helicopter was engulfed in flames after the impact.

Despite the critical situation, the young crew commander successfully made an emergency landing in the burning vehicle. However, only two crew members – a flight engineer and a navigator – managed to survive.

The commander and the rest of the crew were unable to get out and were burned to death.

The operation to destroy the helicopter was carried out by a unit of unmanned systems, known as the “Predators of the Heights” of the 59th Separate Assault Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The helicopter was struck by a 10-inch Shrike 10 FPV drone equipped with a PG-7M warhead, a high-precision drone model designed to target armored and airborne vehicles.

The operation was supported by reconnaissance drones, which provided target detection and navigation for the attack drone.

The unit that carried out the operation informed Militarnyi that the FPV drone was operated by one of the brigade’s most experienced operators, who went by the call sign “Baltika.”

The FPV pilot performed maneuvers in first-person mode at an ultra-low altitude, which allowed him to accurately hit the vulnerable part of the helicopter. This approach increases the chances of successful engagement of even moving air targets.

This case illustrates the increasing effectiveness and role of small attack drones in modern warfare, particularly in targeting enemy aircraft.

Such episodes are recorded not only in Ukraine. For example, in Myanmar, the rebels also reported the downing of a Mi-17 helicopter by an FPV drone.