- Ukrainian strike drones destroyed a Russian Ka-52 attack helicopter and a Mi-8 multirole helicopter at the Pugachevka airfield in Russia’s Oryol region on February 20, 2026.
- The targeted airfield was reportedly used as an operational base for helicopters tasked with intercepting Ukrainian long-range drones.
Ukrainian Armed Forces destroyed two Russian military helicopters — a Ka-52 attack helicopter and a Mi-8 multirole helicopter — during a drone strike on the Pugachevka airfield in Russia’s Oryol region on the evening of February 20, 2026, according to reporting by Militarnyi.
The attack highlights Ukraine’s continued use of long-range strike drones to target aviation assets positioned away from the front line, particularly aircraft involved in countering Ukrainian unmanned aerial operations.
Militarnyi reported that the helicopters were based at the Pugachevka airfield near the village of Pugachevka, a small unpaved airstrip belonging to the Oryol Aeroclub of Russia’s DOSAAF organization, a state-linked voluntary society supporting aviation and military training activities.
According to the report, Russian forces likely used the site as an operational airfield for a consolidated helicopter detachment tasked with intercepting Ukrainian long-range drones. The strike occurred in the evening hours, when both aircraft were reportedly stationed on the ground.
The destroyed Mi-8 multirole helicopter carried board number 53 and belonged to the 319th Independent Helicopter Regiment, permanently based in Chernigovka in Russia’s Primorsky Krai. The Mi-8 platform is widely used by Russian forces for transport, logistics support, medical evacuation, and operational coordination missions.
The second aircraft destroyed in the strike was a Ka-52 “Alligator” attack helicopter with board number 18. According to Militarnyi, the helicopter was assigned to the 16th Army Aviation Brigade based in Zernograd, Rostov region.
The Ka-52 is one of Russia’s primary attack helicopters, designed for reconnaissance and strike missions using guided missiles, rockets, and cannon armament. The aircraft has been widely employed throughout the war in Ukraine for close air support and anti-armor operations.
As reported by Militarnyi, the Pugachevka site appears to function as a forward or temporary operating location rather than a permanent military base. Such dispersed airfields allow helicopter units to reposition rapidly and expand coverage against incoming drones, complicating targeting by Ukrainian forces.
Drone strikes against aviation assets on the ground reduce operational risk compared with aerial engagements and can degrade helicopter availability without requiring direct air combat. Aircraft positioned at improvised or lightly protected airfields may be more vulnerable to precision drone attacks, particularly when used for rapid-response missions.
Ukraine has increasingly targeted Russian aviation infrastructure located inside Russian territory, focusing on helicopters and aircraft involved in intercepting Ukrainian long-range unmanned systems. These operations aim to reduce Russia’s ability to counter drone strikes targeting military and industrial sites.