The main thing A source in the Ukrainian security service (SBU) has claimed responsibility for the mid-air destruction of a Russian Mi-28 helicopter by a small drone, which would be a “first in the history of warfare”. On social networks, Ukrainian military bloggers have shared striking images.
Can a mini-drone shoot down a combat helicopter in mid-flight? According to the Ukrainian army, this technological feat actually took place on the front lines. Or rather, in the air.
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Indeed, a source within the Ukrainian security services (SBU) claimed responsibility to AFP for the destruction in flight by a small drone of a Russian Mi-28 helicopter, which would be a “first in the history of war”.
On August 6, several military bloggers shared a video on social media showing a drone, piloted in first-person view, crashing into a Russian aircraft. The small aircraft appears to be aiming at the helicopter’s tail rotor before the video cuts out.
Russia: The moment a Russian Mi-28 helicopter was shot down in the Kursk region with the help of an fpv drone
Russian propagandists confirmed that Russia has already lost at least 2 helicopters pic.twitter.com/NAYUkIUPj1
— EPIA Security News (@EuropeanPIA) August 7, 2024
According to the same bloggers, the Russian helicopter was destroyed instantly. But according to Alexei Zemtsov, who runs the Telegram channel Voevoda Veshchaet, which specializes in military news, the helicopter was simply damaged and the crew even survived. Ukrainian Pravdaa Ukrainian online newspaper, claims that the attack took place near Kursk, where fighting has been raging since the incursion of kyiv troops on Wednesday.
Another plane shot down at the end of July?
For Ukrainian activist and YouTuber Serhii Sternenko, this is the first case of a successful strike by an FPV drone (for “First Person View“, or piloting in subjective view, editor’s note) against a helicopter in full flight.
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“The SBU has once again demonstrated a high level of professionalism, creativity and innovation in destroying the enemy. We still have many unexpected surprises for Russia,” another source in the SBU told the Kyiv Independent.
According to Ukrainian media, another Mi-28 helicopter was shot down by a drone on July 31. The incident allegedly took place in the occupied Donetsk region of Donbass, but could not be verified by the Kyiv Independent.
