According to the russian Telegram channel Dosye_shpiona, a multipurpose Mi-8 with board number 53 and an attack Ka-52 with board number 18 were destroyed in the strike. The channel claims both helicopters were completely destroyed and beyond repair.
The Mi-8 reportedly belonged to the 319th Separate Helicopter Regiment based in Chernigovka, Primorsky Krai. The Ka-52 was assigned to the 16th Army Aviation Brigade stationed in Zernograd, Rostov region.
Read more: russia Claims Its Ka-52M Used New 30mm Rounds to Kill Ukrainian Drones, But Evidence Suggests Otherwise
Ukrainian outlet Militarnyi suggests that russian forces may have been using the small dirt airfield at Pugachevka, owned by a local aeroclub, as a forward operating site for a composite helicopter detachment. From there, the helicopters were likely tasked with intercepting Ukrainian long-range unmanned aerial vehicles targeting facilities deep inside russian territory.
If confirmed, the destruction of both a Mi-8 and a Ka-52 highlights not only the loss of valuable rotary-wing assets, but also the growing vulnerability of russian aviation, even at improvised rear-area airstrips.
This strike follows another successful Ukrainian drone operation on the night of February 17, when a Ka-27 combat helicopter was destroyed. The Ka-27 is valued at approximately $1.5 million.
Earlier, on February 21, Ukraine's Defense Forces struck two Project 22460 Okhotnik-class border patrol ships near Inkerman in occupied Crimea, and hit two Be-12 anti-submarine amphibious aircraft at an aviation repair plant in Yevpatoria.
In addition, Ukrainian units targeted a Tornado-S multiple launch rocket system in the temporarily occupied territory of Zaporizhzhia region.
Read more: Could Ukraine's FP-5 Flamingo Cruise Missile Strike Surpass russia's Kalibr Combat Range Record?
