Ukrainian naval drone hits Russian Mi-8 helicopter: pilot's call intercepted

Ukrainian intelligence agency shared the video on Facebook.

In a radio intercept obtained by Ukrainian intelligence operatives, the pilot of a Russian Mi-8 helicopter described in panic the impact of a missile strike from a Ukrainian Magura V5 naval drone. The pilot detailed the events leading up to the damage, his voice betraying fear and confusion.

“There was a bang — I got hit. The missile came from the water. Then there was another flash. I didn’t see where it went, but the first one came straight at me and exploded nearby. I felt the impact on the helicopter; some systems failed,” the Russian pilot recounted.

This incident follows another successful operation by Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence Special Forces, where a Russian Mi-8 helicopter was brought down over the Black Sea by a missile launched from the same Magura platform. The crash was captured on video, marking a significant achievement in Ukraine's ongoing efforts to counter Russian aggression.

• On December 31, for the first time in history, the HUR Group 13 special forces successfully downed a Russian Mi-8 helicopter using a Magura V5 maritime strike drone.