FPV Drone from Ukraine’s 59th Assault Brigade Downs Russian Mi-8 Helicopter

A Ukrainian FPV drone shot down a Russian Mi-8 helicopter that was attempting to fly at low altitude to evade Ukrainian air defenses.

The strike was carried out by a drone from the 1st Battalion of Unmanned Systems “Hawks of the Heights” of the 59th Separate Assault Brigade.

The operation, coordinated with reconnaissance drones, was conducted in the morning of September 29th.

Flying at low altitude in an attempt to remain undetected, a Mi-8 and a Ka-52 helicopter were trying to pass together – the drone struck the first aircraft.

The hit was also confirmed by pro-Russian Telegram channels, which reported that the Russian pilots had been later evacuated.

Operating in first-person view mode, the FPV drone pilot performs highly precise maneuvers at low altitude, increasing the likelihood of striking vulnerable parts of the helicopter. The incident underscores the growing role of small unmanned systems in modern conflicts against combat aviation.

Similar instances of drone use against helicopters have also been reported in Myanmar, where rebel forces claimed a Mi-17 helicopter had been struck by a drone.