Ukrainian forces say they used an FPV drone to bring down a Russian Mi-8 helicopter, with video of the incident published on September 29 by Robert “Madyar” Brovdi, commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces. He said the operation was carried out by troops from the 59th brigade of the Unmanned Systems Forces.
The Telegram channel of the 1st Battalion of Unmanned Systems of the 59th Separate Assault Brigade identified the helicopter as a Mi-8, not a Mi-28 as initially stated. “A Russian Mi-8 attack helicopter worth more than $10 million was destroyed. And it was done with a small FPV drone costing just $500,” the unit’s post said.
Pro-war Russian channels also indicated Brovdi initially misidentified the model. The “Osvedomitel” Telegram channel said it was a Mi-8, and Russian military pilot and milblogger Alexei “Voevoda” Zemtsov wrote that Ukrainians confused the type. He added the crew survived: “The infantry picked up the guys and evacuated them. … The pilots did great; they kept the burning aircraft under control and set it down calmly.”
In August 2024, reports first surfaced of a Russian helicopter being struck by a Ukrainian FPV drone, when a Mi-28 was damaged in Russia’s Kursk region. At the time, a Security Service of Ukraine source told Ukrainska Pravda the drone hit the helicopter’s tail rotor.
