Ukrainian Drone Downs Advanced Russian Mi-28 Attack Helicopter Over Belgorod

In a remarkable battlefield development, Ukrainian unmanned systems forces successfully shot down a Russian Mi-28 attack helicopter using a small, remotely controlled FPV drone. The incident occurred around 10:00 a.m. near the village of Vyazovaya in the Belgorod region, close to the Ukrainian border. Operators from the Ukrainian Rarog unit precisely targeted the helicopter's tail, a critical vulnerability, causing immediate loss of control and a crash.

The Mi-28, known by NATO as "Havoc" and nicknamed "Night Hunter" by Russian pilots, is a heavily armored attack helicopter designed to destroy tanks and withstand heavy machine gun fire. Despite its robust armor, it proved vulnerable to the inexpensive drone, which cost only a fraction of the helicopter's estimated $16 to $18 million price tag.

Robert Brovdi, commander of the unmanned systems forces known as "Madiar," shared footage of the helicopter's final moments, describing the crash as "nose first into the ground." According to intelligence project Oryx, at least 20 Mi-28 helicopters have been destroyed or damaged since the war began, underscoring the increasing threat that low-cost drones pose to even the most expensive military hardware in modern warfare.