The Ukrainian Navy reported that it had shot down a Russian Ka-27 helicopter over the Black Sea on Thursday, March 5.
In a Telegram post, the Navy stated:
“The forces and means of the Ukrainian Navy destroyed an enemy ship-based anti-submarine helicopter Ka-27 over the Black Sea.”
No further details were provided regarding the exact location or the weapons used. Russia’s Defense Ministry or other officials have not commented on the strike.
The Ka-27 is a Soviet-era naval helicopter, developed in the 1980s for anti-submarine warfare. It can detect and engage submarines at depths of up to 500 meters (1,640 feet) and combat radius of up to 200 kilometers (125 miles) from its home ship.
The helicopter has a top speed of around 270 km/h (168 mph) and an operational range of 800-900 km (500-560 miles).
It is capable of operating from both ships and coastal airfields, performing tactical missions independently or in coordination with other naval units across all regions.
The last publicly reported destruction of a Ka-27 naval helicopter occurred in mid-February, when the AFU (Armed Forces of Ukraine) General Staff said Ukrainian forces attacked a Russian Ka-27 in occupied Crimea.
According to the report, that helicopter was hit early on Feb. 17 near the settlement of Kamyshly, with confirmed impact on the target. Kamyshly is located roughly midway between Sevastopol and the Belbek air base, an area believed to be under Russian air-defense coverage.
Earlier, in November 2025, Ukraine’s Military Intelligence (HUR) released footage showing precision strikes by its elite “Ghosts” unit on Russian air-defense systems and other military assets in occupied Crimea. The Ka-27 helicopter was identified as one of several high-value targets hit during the operation.
In 2024, the Crimean Wind Telegram channel reported that Russia’s Black Sea Fleet was using Ka-27 helicopters to hunt Ukrainian naval drones and landing craft. These helicopters were based at Kacha airfield in Crimea’s Bakhchysarai district.