Ukrainian Special Operations Forces Shoot Down Russian Helicopter with a Long-Range Strike Drone for the First Time

For the first time, the Special Operations Forces (SOF) have shot down a Russian helicopter, likely a Mi-8, which was tasked with intercepting Ukrainian drones, using a deep strike UAV.

The video of the downing was released by the press service of the Special Operations Forces.

“We are changing the rules of the game: now we are the hunters! For the first time, a Russian Mi-8 helicopter was shot down in mid-air by a deep strike drone of the Special Operations Forces! Every mission requires creativity, from the technical characteristics of the vehicle to the planning and training of the pilots. This mission left the enemy with a lot of questions, the answers to which only the Mi-8 crew members know, but will never share,” SOF representatives said.

According to the video, an FP-1 attack drone in an FPV configuration was used to destroy the Russian helicopter.

The events took place near the village of Kuteynikovo in the Rostov region of Russia, approximately 190 kilometers from the line of contact.

The destruction of the Russian helicopter was monitored by another FP-1 drone, which provided accurate verification of the helicopter’s destruction.

The Russian military has long used attack helicopters to hunt down Ukrainian attack and reconnaissance drones.

Back in September 2023, a video was published of a drone from the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine escaping from a Russian Mi-28 helicopter that tried to shoot down the drone with fire from an onboard 30mm automatic cannon.

There are also reports of the loss of two Russian Mi-28s that were hunting Ukrainian drones in July 2024. One of the helicopters crashed and its crew was killed, allegedly due to a technical malfunction while performing air defense missions.

The second helicopter managed to make a hard landing near a settlement in the Azov region after a collision with a drone, resulting in the loss of its tail section.

This is also not the first time a helicopter has been hit by a UAV while in flight. For example, in August 2024, a kamikaze FPV drone damaged a Russian Mi-28 attack helicopter. However, this was the first time in history that a long-range attack drone was used for this purpose.

Ukraine also uses helicopters to intercept Russian drones. Mi-8 and Mi-24 helicopters of various modifications have proven effective in this role – Ukrainian helicopter crews shoot down up to 40% of drones in their designated areas, depending on weather conditions.