Posted on 09/29/2025 3:47:09 AM PDT by marcusmaximus
A Ukrainian FPV drone costing just £500 destroyed a Russian Mi-28N attack helicopter worth £14 million near Kotlyarivka in Donetsk Oblast on Monday, according to Ukraine’s 59th Separate Mechanised Brigade. The strike, carried out by the brigade’s Unmanned Systems Forces (SBS), targeted the helicopter during a reconnaissance mission, with no Ukrainian casualties reported.
The Mi-28N, equipped for night operations, was hit mid-flight by the small first-person-view drone carrying explosives. Footage released by the brigade shows the drone approaching over open fields, striking the helicopter’s tail rotor, and sending it spiralling to the ground in flames. The 30-second clip, recorded from the drone’s perspective, captures smoke rising from the wreckage.
"The fate of the Russian crew has not been confirmed."
Commander Robert Brovdi, head of Ukraine’s SBS since June 2025, announced the strike on Telegram.
He said: "The result is the work of intelligence and our operators.
"Anyone who flies there ‘for a look around’ should be prepared."
Mr Brovdi, a Ukrainian officer of Hungarian descent and founder of the “Birds of Madyar” drone unit, has overseen thousands of drone operations across the front lines.
(Excerpt) Read more at express.co.uk ...
![]() |
Click here: to donate by Credit Card Or here: to donate by PayPal Or by mail to: Free Republic, LLC - PO Box 9771 - Fresno, CA 93794 Thank you very much and God bless you. |
“Putin reels!”
Steely Dan?
Your everlasting summer you can see it fading fast
So you grab a piece of something that you think is gonna last
Well you wouldn’t even know a diamond if you held it in your hand
The things you think are precious I can’t understand
Are you reelin’ in the years?
Stowin’ away the time
Are my eyes fooling me or was that chopper on the ground? I saw what looked like people exiting.
I’d love to see Putin’s face after Ukraine lobs in a Tomahawk.
that’s why the soviets can’t have nice things in the air ...
This incident proves that the purpose of the tail rotor is to keep the pilot cool. For when it comes off he starts to sweat.
From what I caught on that video, the aircraft was not spiraling. I’m wondering if the flight controls were intact enough to do a running landing without the tail rotor?
What I do know is the day and age of armored vehicles and helicopters in warfare has changed much since drones can take them out with ease.
I do believe that’s a fine example of asymmetrical warfare.
Dear FRiends, Our FReepathon is our next concern. We still need to raise approximately $4k before the end of the month to meet our goal! And I think we’re gonna need a little prayer here. Thank you very much and God bless you.
Posted on 9/28/2025, 2:07:33 PM by Jim Robinson
Dear FRiends, We need your continuing support to keep FR funded. Your donations are our sole source of funding. No sugar daddies, no advertisers, no paid memberships, no
commercial sales, no gimmicks, no tax subsidies. This means no spam [except Deep In The Spam Forest], no pop-ups, no ad trackers.
The 30-second clip, recorded from the drone’s perspective, captures smoke rising from the wreckage.
I assume the footage of the burning wreck was taken from another drone as the hit on the chopper would have destroyed the first drone
This is small potatoes. Suchmois has video of recent strikes in Crimea which took out several planes and helicopters.
Russian Launches Autumn-Winter Strike Military Campaign💥❄️Military Summary And Analysis 2025.09.28
How would you feel once Venezuela or cartels start to lob Iskanders?
Iskanders? You mean Islanders. I would say, “Nice Try!
The Seattle Kraken? They would kick butt.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.