Ukrainian forces have shot down a Russian Mi-8 transport helicopter with a kamikaze drone, marking only the second time such a strike has been successfully carried out since the start of the full-scale invasion.
According to Militarnyi, the shootdown occurred on the morning of September 29, 2025, when an FPV drone from the 1st Battalion of Unmanned Systems “Khyzhaky vysot” (Sky Predators) of the 59th Separate Assault Brigade struck the helicopter during flight.
The drone used in the attack was a Shrike-10 — a 10-inch FPV platform armed with a PG-7M warhead, a munition originally designed for rocket-propelled grenade launchers.
The incident is only the second confirmed case of a Ukrainian FPV drone successfully downing a helicopter. FPV drones, which are remotely piloted using real-time video feeds, have become one of Ukraine’s most effective tools for striking tanks, artillery, and logistics targets. However, using them against moving aerial targets remains extremely difficult due to high speeds, unpredictable flight paths, and limited engagement windows.
Russian Telegram channels associated with pro-Kremlin military bloggers confirmed the strike and reported that the helicopter’s crew was evacuated from the crash site. Subsequent information indicated that five people were aboard the Mi-8 at the time of the attack. Three were killed, while two suffered severe burns and are in critical condition.
The Mi-8 Hip is one of the most widely used utility helicopters in the Russian Armed Forces. It is employed for troop transport, cargo delivery, and medevac missions, and its vulnerability to small, low-cost drones could force Russia to alter flight tactics or invest more heavily in electronic countermeasures.