Ukraine downs Russian Ka-52 helicopter with FPV drone

Ukrainian military personnel reported that a Russian combat helicopter was struck by a first-person-view (FPV) drone on the Pokrovsk axis, with the incident supported by released photos and video showing burning wreckage at the crash site.

The hit was attributed to fighters of Ukraine’s 59th Separate Assault Brigade, who said the strike occurred during ongoing combat operations in eastern Ukraine.

According to Ukrainian military accounts and accompanying visual evidence, the helicopter crashed and caught fire after being hit. Initial reports varied on the type of aircraft involved, with some sources suggesting that a Russian Ka-52 attack helicopter had been operating in support of a search-and-rescue mission for a damaged Mi-8 helicopter.

Subsequent updates from Ukrainian sources indicated that the aircraft struck by the FPV drone was indeed a Ka-52. The Ka-52, a twin-seat attack helicopter used by Russian forces, is typically employed for close air support, reconnaissance, and anti-armor missions.

As reported by Ukrainian units operating in the area, the crew of the helicopter managed to exit the burning aircraft after the impact. However, they sustained severe burns. Additional reconnaissance of the crash site suggested that the crew’s condition was critical, and that Russian rescue teams were unable to reach the location at the time due to the tactical situation on the ground.

Video and photographic materials released by Ukrainian forces show the wreckage engulfed in flames, though the extent of structural damage and final confirmation of the helicopter’s variant remains difficult to independently verify from the available imagery.

The Ukrainian military has used FPV drones as improvised strike systems, equipping them with explosive payloads and guiding them directly into targets. These drones are typically operated by individual pilots using real-time video feeds, allowing for precise targeting of vehicles, fortifications, and, in some cases, airborne or low-flying assets.

Ukraine’s 59th Brigade of the Unmanned Systems Forces says its operators used a fiber-optic FPV drone to hunt down a Russian Ka-52 in the Nadiivka area of Donetsk region.

According to the unit, the helicopter was struck by pilots from the “Baltyka” crew of the 1st Battalion “Predators of Altitude.” After the emergency landing, the helicopter crew reportedly tried to escape, but the brigade said both the Ka-52 and the crew attempting to evacuate were eliminated in follow-up action.