Ukrainian naval drones down Russian Mi-8 helicopters in Black Sea
- 2 January, 13:44
Ukrainian intelligence has shot down two Russian Mi-8 helicopters Magura V5 naval drones over the Black Sea for the first time since the start of the full-fledged invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
The attack was launched by the special unit Group 13 of Ukraine's military intelligence, known as HUR, on the night leading to December 31. The Ukrainian Magura V5 naval drones destroyed two Russian Mi-8 helicopters and damaged another one, although the latter managed to return to the base. A video footage from the strikes showed the moment of the strikes on a Russian helicopter before it exploded and crashed into the Black Sea.
This was not the first use of Magura V5 drones on targets in the Black Sea, however that strikes on Mi-8 helicopters was unprecedented. Worth $240,000 and capable of striking targets at distance of stance of more than 800 kilometers with the maximum speed of 80 km/h and can carry a 250-kilogram warhead.
Ukraine has repeatedly used Magura V5 naval drones to target Russia’s high-speed Serna and Akula landing crafts, a landing ship Ceasar Kunikov, Tarantul-class Ivanovets missile corvette, a Sergai Kotov atrol ship and other targets.
The latest attack on Mi-8 helicopters came amid Russian strikes on Ukraine’s Kyiv and Sumy regions on December 31.
