The Ukrainian Armed Forces have released exclusive footage showing the destruction of a Russian Shahed-136 long-range kamikaze drone by a Mi-8 helicopter.
The video captures a coordinated operation involving two helicopters from the Ukrainian Army Aviation.
According to the military, the Shahed-136 drone was escorted away from a populated area before being neutralized to ensure the safety of civilians. The footage shows one of the Mi-8 helicopters executing the strike that destroyed the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).
“The drone was safely directed beyond city limits and then eliminated by one of our helicopters,” Ukrainian military representatives stated.
⚡️🇺🇦Ukrainian helicopter Mi-8 shoots down 🇷🇺Russian kamikaze drone Shahed 136 pic.twitter.com/0AKLYCBjoQ
— 🪖MilitaryNewsUA🇺🇦 (@front_ukrainian) December 7, 2024
The mission involved two Mi-8 helicopters, with one tasked with targeting and the other delivering the strike. The targeting helicopter was equipped with an electro-optical system featuring FLIR (Forward-Looking Infrared) technology, enabling precise navigation and coordination during the operation.
The operation demonstrated the ability of Ukraine’s air assets to adapt to evolving threats, particularly the challenge posed by UAVs deployed by Russian forces.
The Shahed-136, known for its loitering capability and precision strikes, has been frequently used by Russia in the war. Ukraine’s military continues to prioritize protecting civilian areas from such aerial threats, often requiring complex coordination between ground and air units.