Ukrainian drone pilots have destroyed a Russian helicopter using an FPV-controlled drone, according to the commander of the Unmanned Systems Forces, Robert "Magyar" Brody, quoted by Kyiv Post, writes Focus.
"The Mi-28 helicopter was destroyed by pilots of the 59th brigade of the Unmanned Systems Forces with an FPV drone", Brody initially wrote on Telegram, posting a video of the strike.
The 30-second clip shows the drone hitting the helicopter, causing an explosion before it bursts into flames and breaks up in a cloud of black smoke. The location of the attack was not disclosed. Kyiv Post was unable to independently verify the content or time and date of the video.
Initially, the commander of the Unmanned Systems Forces, Robert "Magyar" Broddi reported that a Mi-28 Night Hunter attack helicopter was destroyed.
However, Russian military bloggers claim that a Mi-8 transport helicopter was hit, not a Mi-28, and that the pilots survived.
"Everything is fine, the guys were picked up by the infantry and evacuated", wrote the Telegram channel Supernova+.
The Mi-28, known as the Night Hunter, is a modern Russian attack helicopter designed to destroy armored vehicles, fortifications, and enemy manpower. It is armed with a 30-mm cannon, guided and unguided missiles, has an armored crew cabin, and advanced night combat systems.
Russia supplies Mi-28 helicopters to Iran and actively uses them in its war against Ukraine. According to open data, each helicopter costs about $18 million.
The Mi-8 is a Soviet/Russian multi-role helicopter, introduced in the 1960s, used for troop and cargo transport, medical evacuation, and combat missions. It can carry up to 24 passengers or several tons of cargo, and remains widely used around the world due to its reliability. The cost of such a machine is estimated at over $10 million.
According to Oryx, which tracks visually confirmed equipment losses, at least 18 Mi-28s have been destroyed or damaged since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The true number, however, may be higher, as Moscow seeks to cover up its losses.
Later, however, the Height Predators - the 1st Unmanned Systems Battalion of the 59th Separate Assault Brigade - posted the full video of the helicopter's destruction on Telegram, confirming that it was in fact a Mi-8.
"The crew of the "Baltika" destroyed a Russian Mi-8 helicopter worth over $10 million - and they did it with a small FPV drone worth only $500," the team reported.
They stressed that the success was achieved thanks to the coordinated work of intelligence, headquarters and drone pilots.