The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has seen significant helicopter activity in 2026. Ukrainian Mi-8 and Mi-24 helicopters continue to play a crucial role in defense and operational missions. These aviation assets have been successful in intercepting various enemy drones, including the Shahed and Gerbera models in the Kherson region. Meanwhile, reports highlight incidents such as the Russian Mi-28 being downed by Ukrainian unmanned systems and a friendly fire incident with the Ka-52 helicopter. Such events underline the complexities of aerial operations in the region. The high effectiveness of Ukrainian Army Aviation, evidenced by video footage, is crucial in countering enemy advancements and safeguarding aerial domains.
What role do Mi-8 helicopters play in Ukraine?
Mi-8 helicopters in Ukraine primarily support counteroffensive operations and interception of enemy drones. These aircraft are equipped with advanced systems, enabling them to take part in versatile missions ranging from attack to support roles, providing significant airborne capabilities to Ukrainian forces.
How effective are Ukrainian helicopters against drones?
Ukrainian helicopters, such as the Mi-8 and Mi-24, have proven highly effective against drones. They use tactics involving unguided aerial rockets and have successfully intercepted numerous drones, including those of the Shahed series. These helicopters enhance drone defense strategies, showcasing their strategic aviation advantage.
What incidents have involved Russian helicopters in the conflict?
Several key incidents have involved Russian helicopters, such as the Mi-28 and Ka-52. They have been targeted and destroyed by Ukrainian forces, often using drones. Additionally, there have been reports of friendly fire incidents where Russian air defenses mistakenly shot down their own helicopters, highlighting operational challenges.
What is the impact of UAVs on combat helicopter operations?
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) have significantly impacted combat helicopter operations. They provide reconnaissance, targeting, and attack capabilities that complement helicopter missions. UAVs have been crucial in supporting Ukrainian forces by striking enemy helicopters and helping coordinate offensive operations across the region.
What advancements have been made in Ukrainian helicopter tactics?
Ukrainian helicopter tactics have advanced through the development of operations mixing traditional attack strategies with modern technology, such as drones and enhanced navigation systems. These advancements enable more precise strikes, improved interception capabilities, and flexible deployment under diverse combat conditions.
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Russian ’Gerbera’ shot down from helicopter: enemy UAV crashed into field and exploded. VIDEO A video has been published online showing Defence Forces soldiers shooting down a Russian ‘Gerbera’ drone. 2 303 3 Previously in trend: Destruction of Russian drones
Destruction of MiG-29 aircraft and Ka-27 helicopter confirmed. Enemy ammunition and logistics depots struck – General Staff On September 1 and during the night of September 2, 2026, units of Ukraine’s Defence Forces struck several military targets belonging to the Russian aggressor. 2 457 3 Previously in trend: Striking Russia
Mi-17 helicopter pilot manoeuvred to evade Russian FPV drone just few centimetres from tail rotor. VIDEO The pilot of a Ukrainian Mi-17 helicopter in the Donetsk sector swerved to avoid a Russian FPV drone just a few centimetres from the tail rotor. 37 925 20 Previously in trend: Situation in the Donetsk region Air operations of AFU
Ukrainian Mi-8 and Mi-24 helicopters intercept 14 Shahed and Gerbera drones in Kherson region. VIDEO Army Aviation crews of the Ground Forces and crews of the Air Force of Ukraine continue to demonstrate high effectiveness in neutralising enemy aerial targets. 3 727 15 Previously in trend: Destruction of Russian drones
Russian Mi-28 was shot down by USF in skies over Belgorod region of Russian Federation, – Madyar. VIDEO Unmanned aerial systems struck a Russian Mi-28 attack helicopter in the Belgorod Region of the Russian Federation. 10 929 52 Previously in trend: Destruction of enemy’s helicopters
Russian air defense shot down its own $16 million Ka-52 while hunting Ukrainian drones, - Forbes A Russian Ka-52 "Alligator" attack helicopter was shot down by its own mobile air defense unit while on an anti-drone mission. According to preliminary reports, the crew was hunting Ukrainian drones when Russian forces, who were also searching for aerial targets, opened fire on it. 4 284 24 Previously in trend: Enemy losses
Crew of Mi-8 helicopter were killed whilst shooting down Russian drones in Poltava region. PHOTOS On 30 June 2026, whilst carrying out a combat mission in the Poltava region to intercept Russian drones, four crew members of a Mi-8 helicopter from the helicopter squadron of the 16th Separate Army Aviation Brigade "Brody" were killed. 13 539 26 Previously in trend: losses of Ukraine
Pilots of Mi-8MTV and Mi-8MTV-5 helicopters strike occupiers’ positions with unguided aerial rockets. VIDEO Pilots of Mi-8MTV and Mi-8MTV-5 helicopters of the Ukrainian Air Force filmed footage of combat work against enemy positions. 2 998 2 Previously in trend: Elimination of Russian occupying forces Air operations of AFU
Russian Mi-2 helicopter crashed whilst carrying out agricultural work in Kuban region On Wednesday, 24 June, a Mi-2 multi-purpose light helicopter crashed in the Krasnodar Krai of the Russian Federation. 1 448 6 Previously in trend: plane fell in Russia
New footage released of Mi-28 and Mi-17 helicopters destroyed in enemy rear. VIDEO Additional footage has been published online of the operation to destroy two Russian helicopters in the rear of the occupying forces, carried out on 29 April 2026. 7 464 7 Previously in trend: Destruction of Russian equipment Destruction of enemy’s helicopters SSU special operation Results of Unmanned Systems Forces units’ operations
Russian anti-sabotage boat hit in Kaspiysk, UAV control points and other enemy targets struck – General Staff On 17 May and overnight into 18 May 2026, units of Ukraine’s Defense Forces struck a number of important targets belonging to the Russian occupiers. 1 532 3 Previously in trend: Destruction of Russian equipment
A Ukrainian Mi-24 helicopter struck enemy positions with S-8 unguided missiles. VIDEO The Ukrainian Army Aviation continues to support ground units by delivering devastating strikes against enemy troop concentrations and military equipment. According to Censor.NET, a video has been published online showing footage of the combat operations carried out by the crew of a Mi-24 attack... 4 838 10 Previously in trend: AFU aviation
Defense Forces hit Orsknefteorgsintez oil refinery, Mi-28 and Mi-17 helicopters and other enemy targets, General Staff says On 29 April and overnight on 30 April, units of Ukraine’s Defense Forces struck important enemy targets. 2 497 7 Previously in trend: UAV attack on oil refinery of Russia Striking Russia
Defense Forces hit enemy Mi-28 and Mi-17 helicopters in Russia’s Voronezh Oblast. VIDEO Operators of the Unmanned Systems Forces (USF) hit two Russian military helicopters, a Mi-28 and a Mi-17, in Russia’s Voronezh Oblast, 150 km from the line of combat contact. 6 043 28 Previously in trend: Destruction of enemy’s helicopters
One of Mi-8 crews of Naval Forces of AFU shot down 12 "Shaheds" in 3 hours. VIDEO During the March 24 attack, a crew of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Navy's Mi-8 helicopter spent three hours carrying out a mission to counter enemy attack drones, destroying a significant number of aerial targets. 6 260 15 Previously in trend: Shooting down Shaheds Destruction of Russian drones
Zelenskyy awards soldiers of 59th Brigade of Unmanned Systems Forces who destroyed Russian Ka-52 helicopter with FPV drone President Volodymyr Zelenskyy awarded the Order for Courage, Second Class, to servicemen of the Unmanned Systems Forces who destroyed a Russian Ka-52 Alligator helicopter with an FPV drone in the Pokrovsk direction. 3 456 16 Previously in trend: Awarding awards to military Destruction of enemy’s helicopters
USF fighters destroyed occupiers’ Ka-52 with FPV drone: pilots were also "finished off" by drones. VIDEO USF troops shot down a Russian Ka-52 helicopter in the Donetsk region. 12 367 46 Previously in trend: Destruction of Russian equipment Destruction of enemy’s helicopters
Soldiers of 59th SAB shot down Russian Ka-52 helicopter using FPV drone. VIDEO A rare instance has been recorded in the Pokrovsk sector where the occupiers’ expensive aviation equipment was destroyed using a relatively inexpensive drone. 9 633 22 Previously in trend: Destruction of Russian equipment Combat operations in the Pokrovsk direction
Navy shows destruction of Russian Ka-27: tried to land on "Syvash" drilling platform. VIDEO On the night of 5 March, the Ukrainian Navy and the Armed Forces of Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces struck enemy units located on the "Syvash" drilling platform in the Black Sea. As part of the operation, a Russian Ka-27 helicopter that attempted to land on the platform was also destroyed. 19 469 16 Previously in trend: Destruction of enemy’s helicopters
Russian Ka-27 destroyed over Black Sea, - Ukrainian Navy Defence forces destroyed a Russian Ka-27 anti-submarine helicopter over the Black Sea. 7 149 15 Previously in trend: Destruction of enemy’s helicopters
Russian air defense shoots down its Mi-8 military helicopter in Rostov region. Three crew members killed, - ASTRA. VIDEO A Russian Mi-8 military helicopter was shot down during air defense operations in the village of Dudki in the Rostov region, killing three crew members. 8 944 37 Previously in trend: Military helicopter crashes in Russia Destruction of enemy’s helicopters
Airstrike on occupiers in Kharkiv region: pair of Mi-24 helicopters strike enemy positions in area of 58th Brigade. VIDEO Ukrainian Army Aviation continues to support ground units by delivering fire strikes on concentrations of invaders` personnel and equipment. As reported by Censor.NET, an observation drone recorded the combat work of attack helicopters in the north of the Kharkiv region. 6 482 6 Previously in trend: AFU aviation
Enemy Ka-27 helicopter and three UAV control points destroyed, - General Staff Units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces continue to strike important military targets of the enemy. 3 706 5 Previously in trend: Destruction of enemy’s helicopters
Mi-24 helicopter crew killed during combat mission During a combat mission, the crew of an Mi-24 helicopter of the 11th Separate Army Aviation Brigade "Kherson" was killed. 12 713 35 Previously in trend: losses of Ukraine AFU aviation
Crew of Ukrainian Mi-8 helicopter with Minigun machine gun shot down enemy Shahed-136. VIDEO The Ukrainian Air Force is implementing new effective tactics to combat Iranian kamikaze drones, involving army aviation. According to Censor.NET, unique footage of the destruction of a Russian "shahid" directly from a helicopter has appeared online. 8 208 18 Previously in trend: Result of the work of the air force
Ukrainian crew of Mi-8 helicopter shot down Russian Shahed with machine gun fire. VIDEO A video has been published online showing a Ukrainian Mi-8 helicopter crew shooting down a Russian drone. 5 467 7 Previously in trend: Shooting down Shaheds
Mi-24 helicopter crash: Hero of Ukraine Oleksandr Shemet, who made last air breakthrough to Azovstal, killed. PHOTO The commander of the Mi-24 helicopter crew, which crashed while performing a combat mission on 17 December, was Oleksandr Shemet, a native of Chernihiv region and Hero of Ukraine. It was he who made the last air breakthrough to "Azovstal" in April 2022. 17 305 48 Previously in trend: losses of Ukraine AFU aviation
Mi-24 helicopter crew from 12th Separate Army Aviation Brigade killed on combat mission On December 17, while carrying out a combat mission to repel an enemy attack, the crew of a Ukrainian Mi-24 helicopter from the 12th Separate Army Aviation Brigade named after General-Khorunzhyi Viktor Pavlenko was killed. 10 363 29 Previously in trend: losses of Ukraine AFU aviation
Special Operations Forces shoot down Russian Mi-8 with drone in mid-air for first time. VIDEO For the first time, Special Operations Forces shot down a Russian Mi-8 helicopter in mid-air using a drone. 12 064 40 Previously in trend: Destruction of Russian equipment Drone industry
DIU "Prymary" unit destroys Ka-27 helicopter and Russian radars in Crimea. VIDEO Occupation forces in Crimea have again suffered serious losses - the special forces unit "Prymary" of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine carried out a successful operation on the territory of the temporarily occupied peninsula. 4 881 7 Previously in trend: Destruction of Russian equipment
Ukrainian forces shoot down Russian Shahed from Mi-8 helicopter. VIDEO A video posted on social media shows a Russian Shahed kamikaze drone being shot down. 4 434 20 Previously in trend: Shooting down Shaheds Drone shootings over Ukraine
Total combat losses of Russian Federation since start of war - about 1,153,180 people (+1,020 per day), 11,342 tanks, 34,366 artillery systems, 23,553 armoured combat vehicles. INFOGRAPHIC Since the start of the full-scale invasion by the Russian Federation, the Ukrainian Defence Forces have eliminated 1,153,180 Russian occupiers. 4 557 26 Previously in trend: Destruction of Russian equipment Elimination of Russian occupying forces
Ukrainian helicopter crew destroys enemy "Shahed" strike drone in mid-air. VIDEO Ukrainian pilots have once again demonstrated their skill and composure in aerial combat. 6 333 15 Previously in trend: AFU aviation
Russian Ka-226 helicopter crashes in Dagestan, killing four. VIDEO In the Republic of Dagestan (Russian Federation), a Ka-226 helicopter carrying tourists crashed into a house. According to preliminary data, four people were killed. 5 331 17 Previously in trend: Military helicopter crashes in Russia
Russia has shot down 17 of its own airplanes and helicopters with "friendly fire" since beginning of war, - Russian media. INFOGRAPHICS The day before, Russian propaganda channels reported the loss of a Ka-52 attack helicopter along with its crew. The "friendly fire" incident occurred during the repulsion of an attack by Ukrainian drones on Russian territory. 2 460 7 Previously in trend: The Russians shot down their plane
Z-channels complain about loss of Ka-52 helicopter: two pilots killed Z-channels report the loss of a Russian Ka-52 helicopter with a crew. 10 657 20 Previously in trend: Destruction of enemy’s helicopters
Crew of Mi-8 helicopter destroys Russian "Shahed-136" kamikaze drone. VIDEO A video has been published online showing a fragment of the combat work of the Ukrainian crew of a Mi-8 helicopter during a drone attack on Ukraine. 5 304 10
Unmanned Systems Forces destroyed Russian Mi-8 helicopter using FPV drone, - Madyar (clarified). VIDEO Pilots of the 59th Brigade of the Unmanned Systems Forces destroyed a Russian Mi-28 helicopter using an FPV drone. 13 568 42 Previously in trend: Destruction of Russian equipment
Ukrainian Armed Forces helicopters shoot down up to 40% of enemy drones, - Syrskyi Ukraine is expanding its fleet of combat helicopters, which are effectively used to combat enemy drones. 1 454 9 Previously in trend: Drone shootings over Ukraine
Destroyed Russian Mi-8 in occupied Crimea. VIDEO A video of a downed Russian Mi-8 helicopter in occupied Crimea has been posted online. 6 513 6 Previously in trend: Destruction of Russian equipment
For first time in history: two enemy Be-12 "Chaika" amphibious aircraft and Mi-8 helicopter hit in occupied Crimea, - DIU. VIDEO On 21 September 2025, on the territory of the temporarily occupied Crimea, masters of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine's special unit "Prymary" shot down two Russian Be-12 "Chaika" anti-submarine amphibious aircraft. 13 221 100 Previously in trend: Destruction of Russian equipment The destruction of a Russian plane
Three enemy Mi-8 helicopters and 55Zh6U "Nebo-U" radar station in occupied Crimea were hit - DIU. VIDEO The aircraft fleet of the Russian invaders in the temporarily occupied Crimea has been reduced again as a result of the successful combat work of the DIU's special forces "Phantoms". 8 517 14 Previously in trend: Destruction of Russian equipment Destruction of enemy’s helicopters
Six "Shahed-136" kamikaze drones and four "Gerbera" UAVs destroyed: Mi-8 helicopter crew destroys enemy drones. VIDEO A video has been published online showing fragments of the combat work of the crew of a Ukrainian Mi-8 helicopter. 5 741 16 Previously in trend: Attack of drones AFU aviation
Ukrainian Mi-8 crew destroyed Russian-Iranian "Shahed". VIDEO The crew of a Ukrainian Mi-8 helicopter has successfully destroyed a Russian-Iranian Shahed-136 kamikaze drone during a combat mission. 4 979 15 Previously in trend: Shooting down Shaheds
Two Mi-8s and tugboat: DIU special forces attacked Russian military facilities in temporarily occupied Crimea. VIDEO The special unit of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine "Prymara" attacked the airbase of the occupation forces in the area of Hvardiiske, near Simferopol. According to Censor.NET, two Russian Mi-8 multipurpose helicopters were hit by drones as a result of the attack. The estimated cost of the... 5 608 10 Previously in trend: Strike on Russian airfield
Black Hawk helicopter, for which Czechs raised funds, arrived in Ukraine. PHOTO The Black Hawk UH-60 helicopter, which was funded by Czech volunteers, has been handed over to Ukraine. 13 330 41 Previously in trend: a helicopter from the Czechia for the AFU
Ukrainian helicopter pilot attacks occupiers with unguided missiles and fires off decoy flares. VIDEO A video has been published online showing a fragment of the combat work of a Ukrainian helicopter pilot. 6 482 13 Previously in trend: AFU aviation
Russian Mi-8 helicopter goes missing in Russian Far East An Mi-8 helicopter has disappeared in the Russian Far East. 3 127 24 Previously in trend: Military helicopter crashes in Russia
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