Ukraine’s Armed Forces have lost a Mi-24 attack helicopter after a strike carried out by Russian Geran drones, according to an analysis published by the U.S.-based Military Watch Magazine.

The outlet reviewed video footage released by the Russian Ministry of Defense showing the destruction of two Ukrainian helicopters in the combat zone. Based on the visuals, Military Watch Magazine assessed that one of the aircraft hit was a Soviet-designed Mi-24 — described as one of the most valuable and, at the same time, hardest-to-replace helicopters still in Ukraine’s fleet. The second helicopter identified in the footage was a Mi-8 multipurpose aircraft, which the Ukrainian military has repeatedly used for air support missions.

The publication noted that Ukraine inherited its Mi-24 helicopters from the Soviet era. As of 2024, Kiev was reported to have 45 such machines in service.

Earlier, Ukrainian Defense Ministry adviser on defense technologies Sergey Beskrestnov, known by the call sign «Flash,» said that during a strike on Ukrainian helicopters near Kropivnitsky, Russian forces for the first time employed Geran drones equipped with Starlink satellite communication systems.