Russian Military Helicopter Goes Down Near Oryol, Crew Reported Dead

A military helicopter has crashed in Russia’s Oryol region, according to multiple Russian media and Telegram channels.

Footage published by the Baza Telegram channel shows thick black smoke rising from the alleged crash site. Kyiv Post has not independently verified the video or the reported location.

The incident reportedly occurred near the village of Naryshkino in the Uritsky district at around 2 p.m. local time. Following the crash, witnesses reported a fire and several explosions - likely caused by the detonation of onboard ammunition, according to some Russian Telegram sources.

Initial reports suggest that both the pilot and the flight mechanic were killed in the crash. There were no reported civilian casualties on the ground.

Russian state media outlet RIA Novosti confirmed that emergency services were en route to the site and claimed there were no additional casualties or infrastructure damage.

According to the Mash Telegram channel, the helicopter was en route to its base airfield in Smolensk’s Vyazemsky district when it experienced engine failure and crashed.

“The Mi-8 crashed on the grounds of an abandoned chemical plant on the outskirts of Naryshkino village,” the report reads.

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The Russian Ministry of Defense has not yet commented on the incident.

Air crashes in Russia have become more frequent, often linked to Western sanctions that restrict access to aircraft components.

On April 2, a Tu-22M3 strategic bomber, regularly used to launch Kh-22 missiles at Ukraine, crashed in the Irkutsk region due to an apparent technical failure. One of the four crew members died despite ejecting. The crash also damaged a power line, cutting electricity to over 200 homes and several critical facilities.

Another Tu-22M3 crashed in the same region on Aug. 15, 2024, also due to a technical issue, injuring all four crew members.

On July 25, an Mi-28 attack helicopter crashed during a planned flight in the Kaluga region. Both crew members died, as the aircraft lacks an ejection system. Days earlier, on July 22, a Robinson helicopter believed to be carrying Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) personnel went down in Yakutia.

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.