The Ukrainian Armed Forces shot down a Russian Mi-8 helicopter using an FPV drone

The Commander of the Unmanned Systems Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Major Robert “Magyar” Broddi, released a video in which operators of the 59th Unmanned Systems Forces Brigade shoot down a Russian Mi-8 attack helicopter using an FPV drone.

He wrote about this in Telegram .

Video footage shows an operation by pilots-operators of the 59th Brigade of the Unmanned Systems Forces, during which an FPV drone hit an Mi-28 helicopter.

“The Mi-28 helicopter was destroyed by an FPV drone by pilots of the 59th Brigade of the Unmanned Systems Forces,” he wrote.

Later, volunteer and public figure Serhiy Sternenko clarified that an Mi-8 was shot down, not an Mi-28.

“This is the second confirmed shooting down of an Mi-8 in flight using an FPV drone. For the first time in August 2024, such a target was hunted by soldiers of the Central Military District of the SBU. A cool result!”, he said.

We would like to add that the website of the Unmanned Systems Forces (USF) has published the final statistics of the units’ actions for the period since the beginning of September:

• a total of 22,780 targets were hit,
• of which 6,197 are enemy personnel.

Over the past 24 hours, the report says, 1,037 enemy targets have been hit, including:

• 301 personnel (of which 155 were liquidated),
• 18 departure points for UAV pilots,
• 16 artillery systems,
• 3 tanks,
• 2 armored vehicles,
• 141 enemy unmanned aerial vehicles of the “copter” and “wing” type.

As you know, the Mi-8 is a Soviet/Russian multi-purpose medium transport helicopter, developed in the early 1960s by the Mil design bureau. It is designed to transport personnel, cargo, perform medical evacuations, search and rescue and combat missions (with weapons). The Mi-8 is one of the most massive helicopters in the world and is actively used in military and civil aviation.

Main characteristics:

• Crew: 3-4 people (pilots + navigator/flight engineer depending on modification);
• Load capacity: up to 4,000 kg of cargo inside or on suspensions;
• Maximum take-off weight: 12,000–13,000 kg (depending on modification);
• Length: about 18 m (excluding rotor);
• Main rotor diameter: 21.3 m;
• Height: ~5 m;
• Maximum speed: about 250 km/h;
• Cruising speed: 230 km/h;
• Flight range: up to 500–600 km (without additional tanks);
• Practical ceiling: 4,500–5,000 m.

Earlier, the Main Intelligence Directorate reported another successful raid by the GUR “Ghost” unit on Russian positions in temporarily occupied Crimea. Fighters of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine struck temporarily occupied Crimea, destroying two Russian Mi-8 helicopters and damaging a tugboat.

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