Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces of Ukraine say they have used a long-range strike drone to down a Russian Mil Mi-8 helicopter over the Rostov region of Russia. According to their statement, the mission reached about 190 km behind the front line and ended with the helicopter shot down in mid-air.
The drone, identified as the FP‑1 strike drone, is described as a deep-strike unmanned aerial system. It locked onto the helicopter, launched the attack, and completed the mission successfully, the forces claim.
In their announcement, the Ukrainian Special Operations Forces noted this was a “first-of-its-kind” strike of a helicopter by a drone. “For the first time, a Russian Mi-8 helicopter was shot down in the air by a deep-strike drone,” they wrote.
The helicopter’s downing highlights the growing reach of Ukraine’s unmanned systems into Russian territory. It may signal a shift in how the war is being fought from behind the lines.
The claim has not been independently verified from Russian sources at this time.